Faughart Lower 5 Final Report - ASI Louth

M1 Dundalk Western Bypass
Site 132 Faughart Lower 5
Final Report
GROUP 2 DISCUSSION: Prehistoric Activity
Group Subgroup Subgroup type Period by finds/ stratigraphy Period by
Group Interpretation
interpretation
2 1001 Postholes Early Neolithic Early Neolithic Neolithic
Archaeological features were initially identified in an area measuring 40m x 40m. The
excavation revealed a group of five pits or possible postholes, four of which formed a
shallow arc extending northeast-southwest, with a fifth pit internal to this arc. Four of
the features were between 5 and 15cm in depth and suggest that the archaeology had
been truncated. All the pits or postholes contained sherds of Early Neolithic Carinated
pottery (Appendix 2.1).
The curve formed by the regularly-spaced pits [C4], [C6], [C8], [C10] and [C14] was
tentatively interpreted as the possible partial remains of a circular structure (Delaney
2006). While this is not inconceivable, it should be noted that these pits contained only
single fills – no postpipes were recorded – and the only evidence for possible stone
packing came from pit 4, a feature internal to the arc. An alternative explanation is
that the line formed by these pits is accidental or is at least non-structural, and that the
features at Faughart Lower 5 are the remains of a small group of pits dug separately
or at the same time and then filled.
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Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd