2001:932 - ATHBOY: Connaught Street, Meath

Test excavation was carried out on the site of a proposed residential development at Connaught Street, Athboy, Co. Meath, on 11 July 2001. Athboy is one of four urban centres founded by the Anglo-Normans in Meath, although references in the Irish annals indicate that there was a pre-Norman settlement here. The earliest reference to the borough of Athboy occurs in 1337–8, but there is no documentary evidence for the existence of a town wall prior to the 15th century. The suggested circuit of the town defences is outlined in the Urban Archaeology Survey of County Meath. The development site lies in the north-east corner of the medieval town, and the north-west and south-west site boundaries follow the suggested line of the town defences.

Testing comprised the mechanical excavation of three 50m-long trenches. The only feature discovered during testing was a wide depression which extended north-east/south-west along the north-west site boundary. It has a minimum width of 6.5m in Trenches 1 and 2, and 11.5m in Trench 3. It extended right up to the roadside boundary wall, which forms the north-western limit of the development site, but there was a gradual rise in the natural ground towards the south-east. The fills within the depression were very loose and sterile, and appear to be imported. A deposit of coarse sand and cobbles, possibly the remains of a watercourse, was discovered at the base of the depression in Trenches 2 and 3. It was approximately 2m wide and had a maximum depth of 0.3m. The crushed remains of part of a horse jaw were recovered from this deposit in Trench 2. Although the depression feature follows the suggested circuit of the town defences, there was nothing to indicate that it is associated with them. Unstratified finds from the trenches comprised occasional post-medieval potsherds a nd a single medieval potsherd. Further monitoring was recommended.