Megalithic tomb flattened by Belfast to Dublin road upgrade
Submitted by Andy B on Monday, 24 October 2005 Page Views: 4905
Site WatchCountry: Ireland (Republic of) Nineteen archaeological sites including a Neolithic settlement and an early medieval cemetery have been found along the route of the next stage of the Belfast to Dublin road upgrade.Construction of the nine-mile high quality dual carriageway between Dundalk and Newry is under way and it is due to open in 2007.
The archaeological testing was carried out by Archaeological Development Services Ltd (ADS) and they are nearly finished final excavations.
An early medieval farmstead or enclosure was located at Faughart lower on a small natural rise in the landscape which in addition to views over Dundalk bay gave it what ADS described as, "a commanding position over an ancient routeway".
"Initial results suggest it is an early medieval (400-1169AD) enclosure that has been expanded several times before being finally used as a cemetery for the wider local community," ADS said.
A souterrain or underground passageway measuring 40 metres long was also found; it appears to have been deliberately de-capped in ancient times and the passageway infilled. The site is also home to a large number of early Christian graves, currently around 700 have been identified.
There was a Neolithic settlement in the townland of Plaster consisting of two rectangular structures, probably houses, each measuring around 9m x 6m.
At Aghnaskeagh there is a cairn, which is recorded in the Louth Archaeological Survey as an 'unclassified megalithic tomb' and it lies partly in the road-take. A megalithic tomb, it dates from between c. 4000-2500BC and while around 40% of the site lies outside the road take and will be preserved in situ, the remaining 60 which is affected by the new road is currently under excavation.
The road, which will cross the border, will cost just under about £80m and will take traffic from the end of the Dundalk motorway bypass, which opened last month, from the Ballymascanlon roundabout to Clogoghue roundabout on the southern approach to Newry.
The discovery of the sites has not impacted on construction and councillors in Louth have been told the project remains on target.
Source: Belfast Telegraph
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