2019:726 - PORTMANNA, Dunboyne, Meath

A programme of archaeological testing was carried out in the townland of Portmanna, north-east of Dunboyne in County Meath. Testing was carried out at a pre-planning stage, at the request of the client. The nearest Recorded Monument, ME051-024 (ring-ditch), is located c. 0.15km to the south-east and will not be directly affected by this development. The site contains no structures listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage; the nearest structure, Reg. No. 14405001 (bridge), is located 1.1km to the west-south-west and will not be affected by this development. An assessment of the available cartographic sources, including the Down Survey map (1654–56), the first edition Ordnance Survey (OS)6-inch map (1836) and the 25-inch OS map (1907–11), revealed that the proposed development area is a field that had essentially the same shape in the mid-1600s as it does today. It can be suggested, based on the cartographic evidence, that the site boundaries in most cases seem to have been established as early as the 1600s and potentially earlier. Furthermore, the site boundaries are also in many cases townland boundaries, with the exception of the north-eastern area.

The area was archaeologically tested from 12–20 September 2019, using a 14-tonne tracked excavator. A total of 13 test trenches were excavated across the footprint of the proposed development. Each trench measured 1.9m in width and, in total, 2,331 linear meters were excavated. In addition, three areas around potential archaeological features in Trenches 4 and 8 were stripped of topsoil. In general, the trenches revealed topsoil and sod at a depth ranging between 0.33–0.58m, due to variations in the landscape. The natural subsoil varied greatly across the site, from orange boulder clay to a mottled grey clay to a brown–grey clayey silt.

In Trenches 5–13 early modern ridges/furrows and field drains were exposed.

The area that was opened around Trench 8 produced some evidence of early modern activity, including a pit with early modern sheep shears and three wooden posts.

A possible drainage ditch or field boundary ditch was exposed in Trench 9. This was not shown on any of the OS maps, suggesting it dates from pre-1836.

In Trench 4 a charcoal-rich pit (C05) was identified and an area measuring 7m x 5m was opened around it, however no other archaeological features were present in the vicinity. As it was the only archaeological feature found during testing, pit C05 was excavated.

The investigation exposed no other archaeological features, structures or deposits. Full testing of the site was possible as there were no constraints, and as a result the proposed development site does not require any further archaeological assessment.

However, as the field boundaries in most cases seem to have been established as early as the 1600s, and potentially earlier, and as many are also townland boundaries, it is recommended to preserve these boundaries in situ if possible. If the proposed development should impact on them, they should be preserved by record.