2001:1021 - PLATIN 3, Platin, Meath

An archaeological investigation was undertaken over a west–east-aligned limestone ridge south of Platin Fort, Co. Meath, in advance of the construction of the proposed Northern Motorway (Contract 7) on behalf of the National Roads Authority, during June 2001. The site survived as a limestone ridge similar to Platin Fort (see No. 1019, Excavations 2001) but without any enclosing earthworks or features of surface expression. In fact the ridge was characterised by large rectangular quarry holes along both north and south sides of the main west–east ridge and a further deep quarry hole at the south-west.

Four test-trenches were excavated by hand across the summit of the ridge. Trench 1, 89m north–south by 2m, was aligned north–south across the eastern side of the ridge and traversed a marked hollow between two limestone ridges at the north. Topsoil survived to an average depth of 0.2m and consisted of loose mid-brown peaty soil containing numerous tree roots. Across the main sections of the ridge topsoil directly overlay the limestone bedrock. Where bedrock was not found close to the surface, topsoil overlay light brown clayey silt (similar to topsoil), 0.2–0.3m deep, which contained tree root material and occasional fragments of post-medieval pottery and which had accumulated in natural depressions and fissures within the bedrock.

One feature of archaeological potential was revealed, consisting of a shallow figure-of-eight-shaped pit or depression which lay below a light brown clayey silt (similar to topsoil) and was cut into dark brown clayey silt. The pit survived to 0.64m in length (north-west/south-east) and was at most 0.3m wide; it was filled with mid–dark brown clayey silt containing charcoal flecks, small patches of burnt clay and a small quantity of heat-fractured stone. Charcoal from the fill of the pit returned an early Bronze Age radiocarbon date of 3440 ± 40 BP (1870–1630 cal. BC).

No features of archaeological potential were revealed in Trenches 2 or 3, which were aligned west–east across the ridge perpendicular to Trench 1, nor in Trench 4, which was aligned west–east across the south side of the summit perpendicular to Trench 1.

With the exception of the pit in Trench 1, all deposits revealed across the ridge reflect either naturally laid clay and silts or deposits of quarry waste above boulder clay and bedrock. The number of small finds recovered from the ridge was quite limited and mainly comprised flint debris and post-medieval ceramics.

Monitoring of topsoil removal across the limestone ridge failed to reveal any further features or deposits of archaeological significance.