1991:102 - FERGANSTOWN AND BALLYMACAN, Meath

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Meath Site name: FERGANSTOWN AND BALLYMACAN

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number:

Author: D.L. Swan

Site type: No archaeology found

Period/Dating: N/A

ITM: E 688931m, N 769718m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.669642, -6.654181

Investigation of this site was made necessary by virtue of proposals to site a new sewerage treatment works here, and was carried out on behalf of Meath Co. Council in November 1991.

The area in which the site is located lies contiguous to the River Boyne in the townland of Ferganstown and Ballymacon, and stretches along the east bank of the river for a distance of almost 500m. It is separated from the river itself by the line of the Royal Canal, now disused, and to the south by a wedge of land, some of which is low-lying and marshy.

The surrounding district forms part of the Boyne Valley and is particularly rich in monuments from all periods, although there were no known sites within the area proposed for development. Over a period of three weeks extensive trenching was carried out on a grid pattern covering the whole site, while a more particular examination of two low mounds within the area was completed. These proved to be the result of field clearance and domestic dumping, and of recent origin.

In no case was any feature or deposit of archaeological significance encountered, nor were any finds of significance recovered. Because of the detailed nature of the investigation, it is unlikely that any major archaeological material occurs within the area examined.

746 Howth Road, Dublin 5