2024:677 - Lagavooren, Drogheda, Meath
County: Meath
Site name: Lagavooren, Drogheda
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: 23E0820
Author: Ian Russell.
Author/Organisation Address: Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, County Louth
Site type: Angular stone in pits
Period/Dating: Neolithic (4000BC-2501 BC)
ITM: E 707465m, N 773292m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.698260, -6.372594
Archaeological excavation was carried out at Lagavooren, Drogheda, Co. Meath between 9 and 13 February 2024. A total of 12 pits were identified. Though varying in size, shape and depth, each pit had one thing in common: the presence of varying amounts of heat-shattered angular stone and charcoal within the fill. Though no burnt spread or mound was present or identified, the pits all resembled features commonly found underneath or associated with a burnt spread or fulacht fiadh, suggesting that one might be nearby, most likely immediately adjacent to the east, within an area now occupied by the Drogheda-Navan/Platin Cement railway line.
A radiocarbon date of Cal 3970-3710 BC (94.5%) was obtained from the pit C12, which suggests that the site is Early Neolithic in origin.
All excavations are now complete, and the impact on the site has been mitigated through preservation by record.