County: Westmeath Site name: NEW DOWNS, Mullingar (Area C)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 00E0097
Author: Emer Dennehy, Eachtra Archaeological Projects
Site type: Pit, Furnace and Hilltop enclosure
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 650740m, N 750396m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.501114, -7.235207
Eight areas of archaeological potential were identified while monitoring the topsoil clearance associated with the N4 Realignment and Widening Scheme. Area C encompassed a relatively large area of land measuring 40m east–west by 15m; it was located on the cusp of a low hill. Ten archaeological features were identified. Three consisted of large pits with maximum dimensions of 1.9m by 2.5m by 1m. Overlapping layers of sod and gravel filled all three pits. It would appear that the pits were the by-product of gravel extraction, and they filled in naturally over a period of time, allowing for intervals of grass growth. The contrast of these features by their size and nature indicates that they were of medieval or post-medieval date, possibly the by-product of gravel extraction.
The remaining features identified consist of a ditch enclosing the hilltop, a large furnace and a number of pits and posts containing charcoal and cremated bone, which indicated that they were of a funerary/ritual nature.
3 Canal Place, Tralee, Co. Kerry
