County: Meath Site name: GUN HILL, Lobinstown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0725
Author: Ian Russell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 689512m, N 785450m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.810874, -6.640841
Monitoring was carried out during the deconstruction and removal of an Esat Digifone mast that had been erected within ‘Cromwells Battery’ (SMR 6:43) at Gun Hill, Lobinstown, Co. Meath. The concrete base foundation of the proposed transmitter was 1.6m long, 1.2m wide and 0.2m deep. This was removed easily and overlay a thin layer of modern sand and gravel hardcore, which in turn overlay a layer of redeposited natural gravel and boulder clay that had been thrown up during the excavation of the trench to accommodate the wooden mast. A trench measuring 2.1m by 0.8m was excavated adjacent to the mast in order to attach a chain to the stump to pull it free. The sod and topsoil extended to a depth of 0.3m and directly overlay the natural gravel and boulder clay. A coarse, wet, grey gravel was exposed within the trench, which clearly represented modern backfill that had been inserted around the mast and bracing sleepers.
The connecting cable network was located within a number of plastic ducts that had been laid along the eastern field boundary partly within a disused drainage channel. This trench was 1m wide and a maximum of 0.5m deep and had been backfilled with a loose, brown loam.
Upon completion, all areas of ground disturbance were backfilled and reinstated to protect any undisturbed archaeological deposits that may remain. No archaeological deposits or features were exposed, and no finds were recovered.
15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth
