2001:935 - ATHBOY: Townparks, Meath

The site of the proposed development is within an area of archaeological potential as identified in the urban archaeological survey of County Meath. An assessment was carried out on the site in advance of the construction of two retail units, nine townhouses and ten apartments. As the line of the town wall was believed to have been present within this site, eleven trenches were excavated in order to locate this wall and any other features present.

During this testing, which was conducted on 10 and 11 September 2001, archaeological stratigraphy in the form of pit/ditch fills and a linear stone wall were exposed. Further test excavation, to establish the extent of these archaeological deposits, was requested by Dúchas. This was carried out between 12 and 15 November 2001; three trenches were excavated to determine the extent of the deposits. Three large pits and a linear anomaly were exposed in Trench 1; a section through one of these pits revealed medieval pottery. The second trench excavated unearthed a large linear field drain, while the remains of a stone-built structure were unveiled in Trench 3. This wall was sealed by a silty clay layer which contained post-medieval material. Examination of the 1836 and 1912 OS maps did not locate this structure. The absence of this building from the above maps and the fact that it was sealed by a layer that contained post-medieval material would suggest that a pre-1836 date may be assumed for it. As the deposits identified in Trenches 1 and 3 will be affected by the proposed development, archaeological resolution in the form of preservation by record is recommended. This work is due to commence in early 2002.