County: Meath Site name: GLEBE HOUSE, Dowth
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 95E0030
Author: Donald Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services
Site type: Exacavation- miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 702229m, N 773617m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.702238, -6.451744
Archaeological monitoring of ground excavations for a percolation system was carried out at Glebe House, Dowth, in February 1995. The site lies immediately to the west of Dowth passage tomb. Twelve test-holes were excavated initially on the site in order to ascertain the soakage. This was done by hand under archaeological supervision. The twelve test-holes indicated that substantial disturbance had taken place, presumably when a nearby tennis court was constructed, and the only stratigraphy encountered was a sandy layer immediately below the topsoil at a depth of 0.3m. The only finds recovered were sherds of 19th/20th-century pottery, and a few fragments of quartz were recovered from the two test-holes nearest the tumulus.
The septic tank and percolation area was later excavated by machine and the junction of each layer trowelled. In all trenches three layers were visible and consisted of the topsoil (0.3m), a sandy layer which extended to a depth of 1m and, directly below this, the natural boulder clay which was shaly in places. It is difficult to evaluate the significance of the sandy loam. It is quite possible that this loam is also natural as no finds were recovered from it. The only finds recovered from the site were sherds of 18th–20th-century pottery, a single clay pipe bowl, a single piece of flint and a few fragments of quartz.
30 Laurence St., Drogheda, Co. Louth
