2024:606 - Manorlands (1st Div.), Trim, Meath

The site is located is located c. 300m south-east of the medieval Town Defences of Trim and the numerous Recorded Monuments therein. It is adjacent to the Trim Ring Road, which was built in the late 20th century.

A Metal Detection Survey was required by the Planning Authority and was carried out before the test trenching. No material of an archaeological nature was disclosed by the metal detection.

Eleven Test trenches, totalling 930 linear metres, were excavated in advance of the construction of a running track and associated buildings. There was a considerable overburden of modern construction debris over the greater part of the site, which appeared to have been the result of 20th-century construction of the road, the Trim Fire Station and nearby housing developments. This material contained metal, concrete, tarmac, plastic and other modern material. Because of these modern deposits it was difficult to establish the subsoil on the site. Trenches were generally c. 0.5m deep. In an attempt to establish natural subsoil, a hole was excavated 30m from the eastern end of Trench 3. Natural grey/green clay subsoil came up at 1.2m depth. The overburden contained inclusions of cement, plastic electric conduit and occasional limestone blocks.

No material of an archaeological nature, finds or features was observed in the trenches.