1998:505 - CORSTOWN, Meath

Trial-trenching was undertaken at a proposed development site at Corstown, Oldcastle, Co. Meath, on 12 September 1998. The work was undertaken in compliance with a condition included in the grant of planning in relation to the construction of a private dwelling.

The site lies on the base of the southern slopes of the Slieve na Calliagh hills, where the Loughcrew Megalithic Cemetery and a number of other archaeological sites are found. Five cairns, six megalithic tombs, a standing stone and a stone cross are situated in the townland of Corstown alone.

Five trial-trenches were opened within the confines of the proposed development site. All were dug by a combination of machine- and hand-excavation. The topsoil consisted of a mid-brown with a dark orange hue, silty clay, with moderate angular/subangular pebbles and small cobbles dispersed randomly throughout. The undisturbed natural subsoil lay directly below the topsoil and had a similar matrix except that the soil was lighter in colour and contained more stone. No features, structures or finds of archaeological interest were recovered during the course of the work.