Archaeological excavation report, E3787 Drumad Area 8 Site 102, County Louth

Archaeological Development Services Ltd, having been commissioned by DRD Roads Service,undertook archaeological assessment along the proposed A1/N1 Newry-Dundalk Link Road. Archaeological evaluation was carried out along a number of locations highlighted in the Environmental Impact Assessment as areas of high archaeological potential. This report discusses the archaeological finding sat Site 102 in Area 8, which is located in Drumad Townland. At this site, testing had revealed three linear features ? (045) Was located along the east of Test Trench 11, measured 2.5m wide and lay close to the present N1. It consisted of grey sand and redeposited subsoil mix. ? (043) Was a linear spread of grey sand, 10m wide was uncovered to the immediate south of (045). These deposits may be part of a larger feature but their relationship was unclear having been cut through by a stone filled drain. ? (044) A stone field drain. In the testing nothing dateable was recovered from the upper surface of either (043) or (045) and it is uncertain whether they were associated with the present N1 (an infilled sheugh?) or modern agricultural practices. Upon returning to the site it was determined, that the site represented modern field drains with no archaeological or historic interest and that the information potential of the site had been exhausted in the test excavations. No further excavations were conducted.