2001:1025 - PLATIN: Site 23, Duleek Road, Meath

This site was detected during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the proposed route of the Northern Motorway, Gormanston–Monasterboice, Contract 7. The area surrounding this feature was cleaned back by hand over an area covering 15m north–south by 7m.

During the course of the excavation three possible post-holes were revealed. No other archaeological features were noted in the area investigated. All three cuts would appear to have been the basal levels of post-holes.

The most northerly of the three terminates in what appears to be a point with a wider, more concave upper section which contained some small stones, possibly the remnants of packing. The middle cut had steep sides and a concave base. The fill of the cut would indicate that the post burned in situ as it was mottled, with a pink-grey oxidised clay and flecks of charcoal/carbonised wood. The southern post-hole had steep sides and a concave base. This post also appeared to have burned in situ as the post-hole contained a mottled burnt clay.

The three cuts are roughly aligned on a north-west/south-east axis and may be the remnants of a linear post fence. However, there was no other evidence for anything similar noted in the area investigated.