County: Meath Site name: SIMONSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: —
Author: E. Kelly, National Museum of Ireland
Site type: Ringfort - rath
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 685633m, N 770519m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.677382, -6.703869
The site consisted of a large earthen ring-fort which had a maximum diameter of 75m. Four periods of occupation were identified.
Period I: Neolithic
A number of pits and hearths were found stratified under the banks of the fort. Artifacts of the period on the site included sherds of western neolithic pottery, leaf-shaped arrow-heads, a polished stone axe, and hollow and thumb-nail scrapers.
Period II
Represented by the foundations of a large sub-rectangular house measuring 10.5m x 6.25m. The exact date of this structure was not determined but it definitely pre-dated the ring-fort.
Period Ill: Prehistoric Earthwork
Represented by the ringfort and dating between 500 AD and 1000 AD. Foundations of a small circular house, 5m in diameter, and an area where smelting activity took place were identified. Artifacts of the period included glass beads, fragments of jet bracelets and some iron knives.
Period IV
Represented by pits and hearths associated with animal bones and pottery of the 17th and 18th centuries.
