1972:072 - TRIM, Meath

The Spring and Autumn of 1972 investigations were concentrated in the area between the keep and the south curtain wall where in the previous year the corner of a free-standing stone structure had been exposed. The remains of this structure were completely uncovered and it was discovered that the structure predated the building of the keep. The structure as revealed by the excavation appears to be open-ended with the open side facing the keep. The wall measures about 17.5m long and the sides about 11m each. The floor of the structure consisted of a crusted mortar layer and this layer was exactly at the same level as the footing of the walls of the structure. Thus the mortar floor was laid down immediately after the building of this structure. The mortar layer extended out around the east wall of the structure and butted the north extremity of the east wall; hence it is likely that the structure was always open-ended. The mortar layer was traced up towards the keep and it was found that the foundations of the keep had cut through this mortar layer. It was concluded that the mortar layer predated the keep and therefore the open-ended structure also predated the keep. No archaeological remains were found underneath this floor level inside the newly revealed structure but one reconstructable jug was found to the east of the structure underneath the mortar floor.

A pit or fosse was found at each of the extremities of the side walls of this structure. The pit at the east side definitely post-dates the structure since it was dug through the mortar floor. The pit on the west side produced some interesting material including an iron axehead. A section was opened against the south face of the keep, which revealed the large splayed and faced foundations of the keep. In this area about five arrowheads and a large quantity of 13th century pottery were found.

An engraving of Trim Castle, from Grose's 'Antiquities of Ireland' features on the cover of the 1972 edition of EXCAVATIONS.