2001:945 - NARROW WAYS, Bettystown, Meath

An assessment was carried out on a proposed residential development site at the Narrow Ways, Bettystown, Co. Meath, on behalf of Dúchas, following the discovery of human remains on the site during groundworks. The purpose of the assessment was to define the extent of the burials on the site, and an osteoarchaeologist was also present.

The skeletal remains had been removed and so no on-site assessment of the burials could be made; no obvious cut for the burial was visible at the time of assessment. The skeletal remains were later identified as the partial remains of two young male adults of prehistoric/Early Christian date.

Two large areas were subsequently stripped to establish the presence or absence of more burials. Area 1, which surrounded the location of the burial, measured 270m2 and Area 2, which was located south-south-west of the burial, measured 66m2. Small fragments of human bone were recovered from the spoil removed from Area 1. One relatively large piece was recovered and a preliminary identification would suggest that it belonged to a teenager. The original location of this bone is uncertain and it is possible that it is related to the burial. No other burials were exposed during this assessment. Conditions were, however, quite difficult as Areas 1 and 2 were filled with gravel. Grave-cuts can be difficult to identify in such conditions. As a result 0.5m of the gravel was removed to confirm the absence of burials. An oval feature was, however, exposed east of the location of the burial within Area 1. The function of this feature is not certain but it may have been a pit.

An overall site assessment also showed that there was no evidence for archaeological stratigraphy or burials within any of the service trenches excavated. This is not to say, however, that there are no more burials or archaeology contained within the site. Only a small portion of this site has been disturbed to date and there is a possibility that it contains more burials or associated archaeology. All subsequent phases of activity on this site should therefore be monitored and the possible pit feature exposed within Area 1 should be fully investigated if there is to be an impact upon it.