County: Louth Site name: MAYNE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0053
Author: Cóilín Ó Drisceoil
Site type: Castle - motte
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 714186m, N 784895m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.801058, -6.266569
During a visit to the motte and 14th-century church at Mayne it was noticed that erosion caused by cattle had exposed a partial section through the motte. Recording of this section was carried out under licence. Four deposits were noted. The two earliest formed a 0.33m-deep midden of ash, charcoal, animal bones and seashells, though it was not bottomed. Two deposits of gravel and clay were dumped on top of the midden. No dating evidence for the deposits was found though it is likely that the gravels represent the construction levels of the motte that were dumped on top of the midden material. There was no evidence that the midden was associated with a settlement site and it may have provided a convenient mound on which to construct the motte. A full account of the site will be included in the 2001 County Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal.
6 Riverview, Ardnore, Kilkenny
