County: Meath Site name: KNOCKHARLEY
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0059
Author: Malachy Conway for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Well and Enclosure
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 696875m, N 767391m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.647322, -6.534741
Geophysical survey and archaeological assessment were undertaken as part of a wider environmental impact statement on lands under consideration for a proposed landfill in Knockharley, Co. Meath. The site, 500m west of the N2 Dublin to Slane road and c. 1km north of Kentstown, is in a low-lying valley and consists of a large green-field area of 105 hectares. The site of the proposed landfill does not contain any recorded archaeological monuments; however, a possible holy well lies towards the centre of the site. Limited test-trenching in July 1997 by Hilary Opie (Excavations 1997, 141, 97E0190) did not reveal any archaeological features or deposits. A geophysical survey was undertaken at the site from September to October 1998. Seven test-trenches were excavated using a mechanical excavator.
The geophysical results provided a number of anomalous 'targets' for the test-trenching, although none appeared to be clearly archaeological. The site of the well and the area immediately around it were tested. No archaeological stratigraphy was encountered, and no enclosing element for the possible well site was found. The testing did not prove or disprove that the feature described as a 'holy well' is such, or is indeed an archaeological feature. The test-trench strategy also tested a number of anomalous responses (mainly linear) found through the geophysical survey. In the tested areas where geophysical responses suggested linear features, all but one feature were found to be representative of removed field boundaries and natural geological variations within the subsoil. A wide cut feature revealed in Trench 2 was cut into the natural subsoil. No finds were recovered from the fill or the vicinity of this feature to confirm antiquity. The feature corresponded with a positive magnetic susceptibility response/zone, which faintly resembled a circular enclosure. No further soils, features or finds of archaeological significance were encountered.
2 Killiney View, Albert Road Lower, Glenageary, Co. Dublin
