County: Westmeath Site name: PORTNASHANGAN 1, Portnashangan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 12:88 Licence number: —
Author: Valerie J. Keeley
Site type: Ringfort- rath
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 641342m, N 760321m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.591122, -7.375538
Prior to excavation the site was represented by a well defined circular bank 45m in external diameter. The construction of the proposed Longford Road Improvement Scheme is scheduled to destroy the southern portion of the monument.
Excavation revealed a well constructed monument, represented by a bank with outer ditch. The bank measured 0.9m in height and was constructed from compacted boulder clay. Directly under this material a band of compacted grey soil measuring 0.15m-0.2m in thickness appeared. This appears to be evidence of the old ground surface. The ditch measured 1.2m in depth and 2.4m in width. The fill consisted of a loose brown clay which was devoid of habitation material. In one section a modern drain cut into the existing ditch. The interior of the monument produced no archaeologically significant material. Ceramics recovered from the area included a few sherds of medieval glazed ware but mostly fragments of modern delft. A struck chert flake was also found.
29/30 Duke Street, Athy, Co. Kildare
