Excavations at Port, Co. Louth.

County Louth Archaeological and History Society Recent Discoveries in County Louth: An Archaeological Deposit in Park St., Dundalk Source: Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, Vol. 19, No. 2 (1978), pp. 140-148 Published by: County Louth Archaeological and History Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27729463 . Accessed: 25/04/2013 10:22 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. . County Louth Archaeological and History Society is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Recent in County Discoveries Louth AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL DEPOSIT IN PARK ST., DUNDALK In 1977 a series of cuttings was made in Dundalk on behalf of the Department of Posts and In Park St. the cutting ran (fig. 1). These averaged im. in width by 1.50m. in depth. Telegraphs roughly along the line of the pavement kerb, for a short distance, on the west side of the street. It then turned at right angles and crossed the road into River Lane. Where the right angled turn occurred a stratified deposit was noted on both sides of the it was not possible to note the full cutting (fig. 2). As the cutting had been partially backfilled extent of the deposit. 0.40m. in from the kerb the layers had been totally re Approximately moved by the digging of a trench to facilitate a modern pipe. Portions of the deposit had also been removed, and partially undercut, by further pipe cuttings at the roadway end of the section. im. deep and a maximum It was The surviving deposit was approximately of 2.30m. in width. comprised of three separate layers (II, III and IV) which dipped from west to east. The basal in bone and shell fragments were in evidence layer consisted of natural sand (V). Numerous layers II, III and IV. Samples of these were taken and the following species were identified.1 1The animal identified by Dr. identified bones were by Mr. Finbar National Colm O'Riordan, Keeper, The McCormick. Division, History saddle oyster ephippium) (Anomia of Ireland. Museum National 140 This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions was Recent Discoveries in County Louth 141 STREET-CUTTING. PARK St.. DUNDALK. kerb pavement I H Disturbed material. Heavy grey-brown clay with fist-sized stones. 31 Black soil. TSLYellowish clay. ZHTSand. Fig. 2. (Cardium edule), mussel Layer II : Layer III : Sheep, cattle, oyster (Ostreaedulis), littorea), mussel (Mytilus edulis). Layer IV : Cattle ?, cockle (Cardium edule), periwinkle edulis), saddle oyster (Anomia ephippium). Cattle, cockle (Mytilus cockle edulis). {Cardium edule), periwinkle (Littorina (Littorina littorea), oyster (Ostrea the exception of a single saddle oyster shell, the faunal remains were of edible species. The a build-up of domestic refuse. No artefacts layers would therefore appear to have resulted from were found in association with layers II, III and IV. The area of 'iron pan' shown in layer II is a in a thick hard band due to an It is caused by a build-up of minerals natural accumulation. in the soil. In the disturbed material in the downward obstruction (layer I) 'leaching' of minerals With This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions and Historical County Louth Archaeological 142 one sherd of trailed were slipware Journal and three sherds of blackwTare (18th century) century) (i9th-20th found. Two further sherds of blackware were found in disturbed material in River Lane (fig. 1, C), In the Demesne at 'a' (see fig. 1) a rimsherd of where shell and bone fragments were again noted. a trailed slipware vessel was recorded, also in disturbed contexts. Further north (fig. 1, b) two were layers noted thick, containing in the sides red-brick of the The cutting. and delph fragments. upper consisted This overlay of modern fill, 0.60m. approx. a thick grey layer of fine estuarine silt. Discussion: Due to the absence of datable finds from the layers the period during which they were is unknown. Similarly, because of the now limited extent of the deposit any interpret deposited and post-medieval Examination of various late medieval ation of itmust be entirely speculative. * 'ditch" in the area, which lies well within fails to reveal the presence of any plans of Dundalk1 the line of the town's defences (fig. 1). It is possible that the material was originally deposited in a large pit. On the other hand, the layers may represent the remains of a more general build up of refuse. habitation Comments: As fig. 1 shows, of the town's the route that the street cutting at defences least once. It is unfortunate, followed that it crossed indicates that therefore, these stretches the line were ex to study and record the cavated and backfilled without being examined. A valuable opportunity nature and extent of the town defences has been lost. The deposits revealed in Park St. do, in a small way, show that work on street cuttings and and history of our towns. building sites can often reveal important details of the archaeology or is of natural origin, it is still worth is disturbed Even when the material in such cuttings should be vigilant noting as it can provide important negative evidence. Thus Society members in the event remains. Museum of any Anything of Ireland future urban or excavation construction work which that might be of interest should be reported and to the secretary of the Society. Eamonn may reveal immediately P. Kelly archaeological to the National and Paul Gosling LIBERTIES OF CARLINGFORD AND TD. MIDDEN DEPOSITS IN TD. HAGGARDSTOWN, CO. LOUTH In July 1977 Mr. to Mr.Noel Ross, Hon. the find. The midden situated in a field fence of a midden deposit Carlingford, reported the discovery Jack Adamson, Mr. Ross in turn informed the writer, who investigated Sec, C.L.A.H.S. was sited close to the sea-shore in td. Liberties It was of Carlingford.2 an a new a been bulldozed to entrance to had facilitate which gap through house site. The deposit appears originally to have been roughly circular in plan having a diameter of c. 8m. The surviving parts of the layer (plate 3) had a maximum thickness of 40cm. The shell deposit rested on a layer of sandy gravel and was overlain by a layer of silty gravel and topsoil. A fine blackish fill was mixed through the shell layer. The deposit was overwhelmingly of oysters (Ostrea edulis) but included limpets {Patella vulgata), periwinkles (Littorina littorea), scallops (Pect?n maximus), mussels (Buccinum undatam). (Mytilus edulis) and whelks In bulldozed material, which was composed mainly of shells, three 18th century potsherds3 were found?a manganese glazed potsherd, 1 D'Alton and J. R. O'Flanagan, 2 John Par. Carlingford; Bar. Dundalk Lower; 3 1977: 2189-2191. N.M.I. Reg. No. a sherd The History Co. Louth. of slipware and Dundalk, of Dundalk, O.S. 6" sheet 5. 2.7cm a blackware 1864. from E; This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions base 1.1cm sherd. from S. Plate 3. Midden Liberties deposit, This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions of in County Louth Recent Discoveries 143 Two small sherds of glazed earthenware and portion of an earthenware tile were later picked to the National Museum.1 and presented up on the site by Mr. Paul Gosling, Dundalk, They appear to date to the 19th century. As no material was found in direct association with the midden the date of its deposition in remains unknown. A kitchen-midden which was dated to the medieval period was discovered the same townland in 1948.2 was reported In August 1978 the discovery of a small deposit of shells in td. Haggardstown3 It was uncovered during the Dundalk. to the writer by Mr. Michael O'Hanlon, Riverstown, excavation of a house foundation. c. 5m. in length and c. 3m. inwidth. It survived to a The deposit was oval in plan measuring of 50cm. depth The shells were overwhelmingly of cockle (Cardium edule) together with a few mussels (Mytilus edulis). In the absence of associated finds the age of this site also remains unknown. Eamonn P. Kelly A BOG ROAD AT CRUMLIN, CO. LOUTH During the summer of 1977 Messrs. Charles and Joseph Sandys, while engaged in drainage an old and reclamation work on an area of boggy land at td. Crumlin, Co. Louth,4 discovered in the side of a new drainage trench and its course was partly road. This showed in cross-section as traceable a low traversed which ridge the in an bog east-west direction. of Mr. Paul Gosling, The discovery was reported to the writer who, with the assistance of a layer of coarse gravel examined the site. The road had been constructed by the deposition as a convex deposit 5.80m. wide on the surface of the bog. This layer showed in the cross-section and 25cm. averaging in thickness. The stones in the layer were from to 8cm. 13cm. in maximum length. A layer of peaty soil 20cm. thick overlay the road. The peat layer beneath it had a maximum thickness of 45cm. Below this was a layer of grey clay which overlaid a thick deposit of glacial gravel. Close to the roadway the remains of two pottery vessels were recovered from the bog. One vessel5 was a large earthenware mug which can be dated to the early years of the 19th century (see appendix). The other vessel6 was less complete, being represented by one large rimsherd and a The potsherd. internally which glaze, during latter vessel glazed and having was somewhat appears to have an everted overtired, was a been rim. The a dull large mauve earthenware straight-walled fabric was colour. Vessels of container, in colour, while reddish-brown the type were the current the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Discussion The earliest ordnance survey 6" sheet of the townland indicates the course of the roadway. It linked a small settlement at the eastern edge of the bog with the dry land at its western edge and was presumably built for that purpose. The field survey for the first edition map was carried out in 1835 so that year provides a terminus ante quern for the road's construction. If the pottery recovered from the bog beside it can be regarded as having been discarded by people using the could be at least a half century earlier in date. roadway then the period of construction 1 1978: 124-126. No. N.M.I. Reg. 2 4 (1948), 288-291. at Carlingford," Midden P. F., "Kitchen XI, C.L.A.J., Nyhan, 3 from N; Dundalk O.S. 6" sheet 12, 12.45cm Co. Louth. Bar. Par. Haggardstown; Upper; 4 6" sheet 12. Co. Louth. O.S. Par. Dundalk; Bar. Upper Dundalk; 5 1977: 2335. N.M.I. Reg. No. 6 1977:2336. N.M.I. Reg. No. This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 46.3cm from E. County Louth Archaeological 144 and Historical Journal Appendix Art Report on a pottery vessel from td. Crumlin, Co. Louth, by Mrs. Mair?ad Reynolds, and Industrial Division, National Museum of Ireland. "Large mug, glazed earthenware with underglaze printed design in cobalt blue. Made probably in Staffordshire, 1810-20. about This is an interesting early transfer printed piece. The transition from the early linear method can be seen here. of transfer work to the dot method in the early 19th British manufacturers started to change from purely Chinese subjects In this scene the composition of the picture is exactly like the earlier Chinese scenes. century. The posture of the fishermen and the near and far buildings are direct translations but there is an amusing mixture and a typically Italian line of poplars." of Indian and English architecture Eamonn P. Kelly EXCAVATIONS AT PORT CO. LOUTH In August, 1978 Mr. Paddy Mallon, Dundalk, reported that features were showing in a gravel face by the sea-shore, in td. Port,1 Co. Louth. The site was situated at the high-water mark and was subject to erosion. Mr. Mallon presented of waste the National Museum with a quantity flint flakes and a small water rolled flint scraper (fig. 4,1) which he had collected in the immediate vicinity. to the north there was a One of the features appeared to be a pit (fig. 3). Fifteen metres to have been a natural depression which had This appears originally second larger feature. silted up. A line of charcoal near the bottom of the fill suggested the former exis subsequently tence of a fire. The feature was c. 5m. in maximum extent and was i.iom. deep. it was discussion with the land-owner Mr. Colin Harmon, Port, Co. Louth, Following decided to excavate the smaller feature. The work was undertaken by the writer assisted by Mr. John Casey and Mr. Patrick Fisher. It had a maximum confirmed that the feature was a pit. The excavation depth of 1.56m. and a diameter of 2.05m. At the bottom of the pit there was a layer which comprised a mixture Above it lay a deposit of of ashes, sand and fine charcoal. This averaged 23cm. in thickness. a of 60cm. soil maximum The thickness which overlay this was a fine having yellow gravel gravelly humus which had been ploughed formerly. Finds2 two late 13th century or early 14th century potsherds In the plough-soil was a base angle sherd, possibly from a glazed jug, which bore the remains impression (fig. 4, 4). The other sherd was an abraded body sherd (fig. 4, 5). soil were two fragments of corroded iron (fig. 4, 7-8), one of which (no. 7) may of a knife blade. A small fragment of glass (?g. 4, 6) was the final discovery layer. of flint wras recovered from the yellow gravel layer. A quantity water-rolled pebbles and ten small waste flakes. Two notched chipped pebbles. (fig. 4, 2-3), both of which had been struck from water-rolled mollusc shells were also found in the layer. One piece was identified as Five echinatum).3 small quantity small waste flint flakes of fine charcoal were between 1.2cm. found in the bottom and 3.1cm. were found. One of a single thumb Also in. the plough have formed part to be made in this It included five split or scrapers were also found Five small fragments of prickly cockle (Cardium in maximum length and a layer of the pit. Discussion were the The only datable objects found on the site were the two medieval potsherds but as these cannot be used for recovered from plough-soil dating purposes. The period to which they site relates must therefore remain uncertain. Eamonn 1Par. Co. Louth. Port; Bar. Ferrard; 2 1978: 190-246. N.M.I. Reg. No. 3 Identified by Mr. J. M. C. Holmes, O.S. Natural 6" sheet History 19, 20.7cm from N; Division, National 35cm from W. Museum of Ireland. This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions P. Kelly in County Louth Recent Discoveries + + + + + + + +'+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +.+ +;+ >+.+ + + * + +1+ + + + +I+ td. Port, co. Louth. of a pit, Plan & section 145 + + + + + + + + + + +*+ + + +i + +*+ + + + +flS+? + + + + + + + + + + + + ***+ + + + + + +. + +'+ + + + + + + + + + + + 1 + -f + + + + + + -ChQ>f ife + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +^- + + + + ^P+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +#+ +.+ + + + + + AI Fig. 3. This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 4^ ^ o ^a o ?cm. ?cm. 6 8 4. Fig. ?cm I This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Recent Discoveries in County Louth 147 A MEDIEVAL POTTERY ROOF RIDGE TILE FROM DROGHEDA On one of a number of visits to a building site in Drogheda in March and April 1979 portion of a medieval glazed pottery roof ridge tile was found. The site fronts onto the west side of Free and is being developed. School Lane, off Laurence Street, Drogheda The object lay under a rough uncoursed stone wall which runs north-south along the lane frontage and under the present road surface there. The tile was found at a depth of about 1 metre below present ground level from the south end of the lane. Very little, if any, of the archaeological and about 20 metres and the thirty plus sherds of medieval deposits on the site remains undisturbed pottery which were also found were all unstratified. The. surviving portion of the tile consists of part of the ridge top of the tile and is 10.5cm in length. The tile originally could have been up to 6ocms long, but ridge tiles are known to vary in size. From the finished appearance of one of the ends of the tile (right-hand end in the illustra tion) it would appear that this piece belongs to the end of one such roof tile. From the ridge top the two sides of the tile would have sloped down and out to protect the top of the roofing material; be it of thatch, wooden shingles, ceramic tiles or stone slates. The ridge top is decorated with what appears to be either part of a crest decoration with In either the point broken off, or a circular decoration which would have had an open centre. case decoration along the length of the original tile would have consisted of a series of similar crests or open circles. An interesting feature is that in the top of the tile, just where it starts to slope upwards, there is a small circular opening about 5mm in diameter which appears to extend in diameter with depth. Its purpose was to down the whole depth of the ridge top, decreasing offset expansion during firing. 6 CMS. This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions County Louth Archaeological 148 and Historical Journal Medieval pottery roof ridge tiles were normally used in the roofing of churches but may also In this context it is interesting to note that the plot in have been used in the larger town houses. which the tile was found is one of the few medieval plots in Drogheda whose owner can be identi records. In 1436 this plot and the house belonging to it, fronting onto fied in the documentary Laurence Street, were held by Joneta Swayne,1 sister to the then primate of Armagh. The tile would appear to have been manufactured locally and its glaze and fabric indicate a century A.D. date. I3th-i4th Some of the pottery sherds from the site would also appear to be of this general date and they include both local and imported wares. The finding of this material allied to the discovery of up to 400 sherds of medieval pottery of the new road through John Street in 1976,2 again in an unstratified during the construction the town area and emphasises of the medieval indicates the archaeological context, potential in this area to be preceded by proper archaeological need for redevelopment investigation. The object is at present in the National Museum of Ireland. Acknowledgments My thanks to the owner, Mr. P. Kelly, for permission the illustration and to Mr. J. Bradley for his information, to visit the site, to Ms. M. Belton and help. discussion Gabriel 1D. A. Chart 2 R. ? Floinn of John Swayne (ed.), The Register 33. in Excavations 1975-76, (Belfast, 1935), 165. This content downloaded from 137.191.245.37 on Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:22:15 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions for Cooney