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AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

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Louth<br />

Newtownbalregan, Co. Louth<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure<br />

Grid reference: J02150892 (302156/308928)<br />

SMR: N/A<br />

Excavation Licence No: 03E0115<br />

Excavation duration: N/A<br />

Site director: D. Bayley (IAC Ltd.)<br />

Newtownbalregan 6, excavated in advance <strong>of</strong> the M1 motorway, consisted <strong>of</strong> a circular<br />

enclosed settlement and an external souterrain which were situated on a high ridge<br />

overlooking the Castletown and Kilcurry river valley. Artefacts from the enclosed settlement<br />

suggest occupation between the seventh and tenth centuries and the souterrain may be<br />

contemporary as they typically date between the eighth and tenth centuries. Contemporary<br />

excavated settlements in proximity to Newtownbalregan 6 included Carn More (Delaney<br />

2003; Roycr<strong>of</strong>t 2005), Tateetra (Hayes 2006), Balriggan (Delaney 2010) and Faughart Lower<br />

(Bowen 2008).<br />

<strong>The</strong> enclosure measured 46m in internal diameter and had an overall diameter <strong>of</strong><br />

approximately 52m. A causewayed entrance, which was 5m wide, was located on its eastern<br />

side.<br />

<strong>The</strong> enclosure ditch measured between 2m and 4m in width and had a maximum depth <strong>of</strong><br />

1.5m. It, notably on its southern side, produced a number <strong>of</strong> artefacts indicative <strong>of</strong><br />

settlement including a copper alloy penannular brooch, two stick pins, three decorated glass<br />

beads and a knife. Animal bone was more plentiful in the western part <strong>of</strong> the ditch so this<br />

may have been close to where butchering and meat processing occurred. Items <strong>of</strong> a<br />

functional nature, within the ditch fills, included 32 fragments <strong>of</strong> souterrain ware and large<br />

numbers <strong>of</strong> worked flint.<br />

Further evidence for habitation was present within the southern area <strong>of</strong> the enclosure. This<br />

consisted <strong>of</strong> a series <strong>of</strong> postholes and pits; some <strong>of</strong> which were truncated by each other, but<br />

no recognisable structural plan could be identified.<br />

<strong>The</strong> souterrain was located 5m to the south-west <strong>of</strong> enclosure and it followed the incline <strong>of</strong><br />

the hill down to the south (Fig. 229). It measured 46m in length and consisted <strong>of</strong> a number<br />

<strong>of</strong> galleries, rectangular and corbelled chambers, a drop-hole and an entrance way which<br />

featured one large internal door with jambs and a locking arrangement. Another interesting<br />

component <strong>of</strong> the souterrain was the reuse <strong>of</strong> a piece <strong>of</strong> decorated megalithic art as a<br />

capstone near the entrance to Gallery 3.<br />

484

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