2026:208 - Walterstown, Moynalty, Meath

Archaeological test trenching was carried out at a site in Walterstown, Moynalty, Co. Meath, ahead of an extension to a dairy farm located within the site, with three test trenches excavated. Trenches 1 and 2 were located between two farm buildings in a stoned courtyard with occasional patches of grass along the edges. Once the surface stone was removed, the natural subsoil was exposed immediately, consisting of a heavily compacted, light orangish-brown clay with frequent stone. Excavations were continued to a depth of 0.3m in Trench 1 and 0.2m in Trench 2; no further stratigraphic layers were identified, nor were any archaeological features or deposits observed.

Trench 3 was similarly shallow, excavated to a depth of 0.2m. The only notable difference here was that the trench location was covered with grass sod measuring 0.1m in thickness. As a result, the natural subsoil appeared darker here due to the overlying topsoil. No archaeological features or deposits were identified in Trench 3.

The shallow depths of the trenches and the lack of topsoil or grass sods are likely due to previous ground reduction at the site, which was evident from a cut in the hill to the east of the site, where ME011-001—-, Ringfort – rath is located, which indicates that ground reduction of c.1m has taken place.