Fort Hill — Balriggan

Marked on the 1835 'OS 6-inch' map as 'fort'. Levelled during landscaping activity associated with the construction of Fort Hill House (CLAJ 2, 1908, 36). Partially excavated (c. 50%) as part of the Dundalk Western Bypass Project (Excavation Licence 02E1326). The first phase of construction dated to the early 13th-14th century when the hilltop was fortified and took the form of an inner fortified area of an ellipse (40m N-S; 23m E-W) with a V-shaped ditch (max. D 1.37m) protecting the W half. The second stage consisted of the construction of outer defence or bailey which encompasses the inner enclosure and hilltop. A series of pits and postholes were uncovered in the interior. Finds included a polished stone axe from the topsoil, medieval and post-medieval pottery, crucible sherds and a blue bead. A pit (LH004-144----) dating to the Neolithic was discovered to the SW and possible Iron Age round house (LH004-145----) was discovered on the summit of the hill. A single inhumation (LH004-146----) of a pre-teen female, orientated N-S and dating to the 16th/17th century was also recorded. (Bayley 2004, 373; Bayley 2010). References: Bayley, D. 2004 Fort Hill, Balriggan, Dundalk Medieval hillfort. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2002: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 373 (No. 1329). Bray. Wordwell Bayley, D. 2010 M1 Dundalk Western Bypass, Site 120: Fort Hill, Chainage 23.480-23.560 NGR: 303423/310581, Final Report on behalf of Louth County Council and the National Roads Authority, Licensee: David Bayley, Licence Number: 02E1326. Irish Archaeological Consultancy. Unpublished report, National Monuments Service, Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government, Dublin. CLAJ County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal. Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 17 November 2011