2001:952 - COLP WEST, Meath

An archaeological excavation was carried out in advance of the construction of Phase I of the proposed housing development at Colp West, Drogheda. Following the discovery of archaeological deposits during the monitoring of topsoil-stripping, an excavation was carried out between 27 September 2000 and 5 February 2001. An extensive site was revealed at Colp West, which incorporated a small ringfort, six associated enclosures, a Bronze Age enclosure, an Iron Age enclosure, kilns, possible robber trenches, post-holes, spreads and pits. Four broad phases of activity were identified, and can be dated to the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Early Christian and post-medieval–modern periods respectively.

Phase A—Bronze Age
Three features on this site can be assigned to the Bronze Age. Some were securely fixed by radiocarbon dating; others were assigned to this period owing to their location in close proximity to and amongst features from which a radiocarbon date was obtained. The oldest feature exposed on this site was the D-shaped enclosure F47 (cal. 1520–1310 BC). A single post-hole (F48) was exposed within this feature. This post-hole was, in all likelihood, associated with the post-holes F49, F60 and F73–F78 which were exposed immediately north and north-west of the enclosure F47. The exact function of the post-holes remains unclear but it is clear that they were associated with the enclosure and are therefore middle Bronze Age in date. A cluster of pits (F57, F62–F67, F166 and F167) was exposed north-west of the enclosure and its associated post-holes. Cordoned urn pottery was recovered from one of these pits (F66; cal. 1600–1300 BC). Cordoned urns were made at the end of the early Bronze Age and the first part of the middle Bronze Age. The final feature exposed that can be securely dated to the middle Bronze Age was the circular hut structure F13 (cal. 1428–1046 BC). This feature was a significant distance west of F47 but was probably built by the same community that constructed the aforementioned enclosure.

Evidence of a late Bronze Age settlement was recovered east of the circular hut structure and north-west of the D-shaped enclosure and comprised a ‘robber trench’ (F22), seven post-holes (F23–F29; cal. 916–596 BC) and three pits (F20, F30, F57). Pit F20 (cal. 760–203 BC) was located near the aforementioned post-holes and the ‘robber trench’. The exact function of the post-holes F23–F29 and the ‘robber trench’ is not known but they were probably once structurally related. Pit F57 was, however, located at a distance to the east and was north-west of the D-shaped enclosure. This feature was attributed to the late Bronze Age following the analysis of fourteen sherds of pottery recovered from the fill.

Following the analysis of two sherds of pottery recovered from its fill, the linear feature F46 was also assigned to the Bronze Age. Pottery was recovered from pit F64, which was assigned to the Bronze Age. The pits within Area N and Area P were assigned to the Bronze Age owing to their close proximity to the D-shaped enclosure, the linear feature, and the pits from which Bronze Age pottery was recovered.

In conclusion, Bronze Age activity (middle and late) was confined to two areas on this site. The first area included the D-shaped enclosure, the linear boundary feature, pits and associated post-holes, while the second included the ‘robber trench’ and associated pits and post-holes. The second, slightly later phase of Bronze Age activity was exposed west to north-west of the earlier phase. These two phases of activity were, however, linked, as a pit (F57) containing late Bronze Age pottery was located amidst the middle Bronze Age features.

Phase B—Iron Age
Various features on this site can be assigned to the Iron Age. Many of these were securely dated by the radiocarbon method while others were assigned to this period owing to their location near to and amongst features from which a radiocarbon date was obtained.

A single kiln (F11; cal. 409–203 BC) and an irregularly shaped pit feature (F3; cal. 378 BC–AD 4) were the only features exposed that were securely dated to the early Iron Age. Both were within the western area of the site but they were not close to each other.

Late Iron Age activity was represented by eight kilns (F10, F34, F35, F39, F85, F105, F176, F199), the pit cut by the souterrain (F149; cal. AD 244–438), the circular hut structure (F127/F140; cal. 50 BC–AD 210), two pits (F19 and F92; cal. AD 259–418 and AD 212–404 respectively) and the semicircular enclosure F171. The kilns varied in date range from cal. 108 BC–AD 220 (F34) to cal. AD 400–650 (F10). The kilns F10, F35, F85 and F199 could be interpreted as transitional as they may very well have been in use in the initial stages of the Early Christian period. As mentioned previously, the hut feature (F127/F140), the kiln (F105) and the semicircular enclosure (F171) almost certainly coexisted and were probably built by the one community.

Various features were subsequently attributed to the Iron Age owing to their similarity to other features which were securely dated to that period. All of the kilns were almost certainly Iron Age in date, as was the irregularly shaped feature with the mottled stone base (F104), almost identical to F3. The features contained within Areas B–G, I–L, S, C1a, C1b and Z were also attributed to the Iron Age owing to their location amidst features which were securely dated to the Iron Age through radiocarbon dating.

In conclusion, the Iron Age phase of activity was largely confined to the area west of the linear feature (F46). It was, however, spread over a vast area, and the settlement evidence (i.e. hut structure and enclosure) during this period defined the eastern extent of the site.

Phase C—Early Christian period
The Early Christian settlement evidence was represented by the ringfort (F113/F128), the oval annexed enclosure (F87), the subrectangular enclosures (F51 and F103), the partial remains of the circular enclosure (F129), the semicircular enclosure (F174), and their associated features. Radiocarbon dates returned from these features prove the continuous presence of an Early Christian community from the late 6th century to the latter part of the 8th century.

The first phase of settlement is indicated by the construction of the ringfort (cal. AD 598–684) and the annexed oval enclosure (F87; cal. AD 569–679). The enclosure F129 could also have been constructed at this stage, although this cannot be proven as it was not stratigraphically related to any of the Early Christian enclosures and a radiocarbon date could not be obtained from the small quantity of animal bone and charcoal recovered from the ditch fill. The second phase of activity saw the construction of the large subrectangular enclosure which was added on to the northern edge of the ringfort (cal. AD 625–771). It was also at this time that the oval enclosure (F87) was replaced by a second subrectangular enclosure (F51; cal. AD 610–761). This enclosure was used in conjunction with the ringfort and the large subrectangular enclosure to the north.

The final phase of Early Christian activity was indicated by the construction of a smaller, narrower enclosure (F174). Only the partial remains of this enclosure were evident. This feature cut the Iron Age enclosure (F171), the oval enclosure which was annexed on to the ringfort, and the smaller subrectangular enclosure that replaced the oval enclosure. This semicircular enclosure (F174) may have replaced the subrectangular enclosure (F51) and may have been used in conjunction with the ringfort and the large subrectangular enclosure (F103) to the north.

Some of the drying kilns may also have been used by the Early Christian community at Colp West. Four of the drying kilns returned radiocarbon dates that could be interpreted as transitional (cal. AD 240–610 to cal. AD 400–650). Finds recovered from this site indicative of Early Christian settlement include a bronze pin, a bone comb and a glass bead fragment.

Phase D—Post-medieval–modern
The post-medieval to modern phase of activity was represented by field drains and occasional pits.

Conclusion
The full extent of the site at Colp West was not defined during the excavation of the features uncovered during monitoring of Phase I of this development and it is clear that it continued southwards beyond the Colp Road. Pit features were uncovered several years ago on the south side of the road (Kieran Campbell, pers. comm.). These are, in all likelihood, associated with the large-scale multi-period settlement site which was excavated at Colp West. It is also possible that the nearby Early Christian cemetery uncovered by Margaret Gowen in 1988 (Excavations 1988, No. 51; Downey 1999) represents the final resting place of some of this Early Christian community at Colp West.

The archaeology uncovered adds significantly to our knowledge of the Colp hinterland and may represent the precursor of the medieval borough. During recent monitoring of Phase III of the development three fulachta fiadh were exposed. These were subsequently excavated (see No. 954 below) and charcoal samples taken. Fulacht 1 returned a radiocarbon date of 3840 ± 70 BP (cal. 2470–2120 BC) and Fulacht 2 returned a radiocarbon date of 3920 ± 70 BP (cal. 2580–2200 BC). This testifies to the presence of a community at Colp prior to the settlement evidence discussed within this report. The radiocarbon date returned from Fulacht 3 (2440 ± 70 BP; cal. 780–390 BC), however, proved that this fulacht fiadh was contemporary with the earlier phases of settlement exposed during Phase I of this development.

Further topsoil-stripping over the course of the present housing development may expose further sites which may offer greater insights into this important archaeological and historical landscape.

Reference
Downey, M. 1999 From the Nanny to the Boyne. Bettystown, Co. Meath.