2001:1036 - RATHMULLAN: Site 12, Meath

The site is one of a series of potential prehistoric sites identified during pre-development testing along the route of the proposed Northern Motorway, Contract 7. Site 12 was on a low rise 550–650m south of the Donore Road in the townland of Rathmullan, Co. Meath, and covered an area of approximately 15m by 10m. The site was on a gentle south-facing slope and had clear and unobstructed views south as far as the Dublin to Belfast railway line. It was clearly intervisible with sites 10, 13, 14, 15–16 and 17. Three main phases of early Bronze Age activity have been identified at the site to date.

Phase I
The earliest activity was represented by a single pit, C23, in the centre of the site. C23 was subangular in shape, measuring 2m by 1.4m with an original depth of 0.86m. It was heavily truncated by later phases of activity and was filled with a series of slightly waterlogged deposits. A substantial quantity of unburnt bone, some antler and one fragment of shell were recovered from the fills of this pit. Cursory examination of the bone indicated damage consistent with butchery, but this determination needs to be confirmed by specialist analysis of the material. The amount of unburnt bone and the charcoal inclusions suggest that the fills were refuse layers.

Phase II
The second phase of occupation was distinguished by two very large pits, C14 and C17, in the centre and southern margins of the site respectively. The larger of the two, C14, was subrounded in shape and measured 3.55m by 3.5m, with a depth of 0.6m. It heavily truncated the earlier Phase I pit. Its lower fills also produced unburnt bone and shell and were quite similar in composition to the fills of C23. The fill C12 was made up of a dark brownish-grey silty clay, with frequent charcoal lumps and flecks. A large quantity of early Bronze Age pottery (529 sherds) was recovered, most of which appears to be of Beaker type, though this has still to be confirmed by a specialist. The assemblage included 34 decorated sherds, 30 rim sherds, nine base sherds, one possible handle and five feet of polypod vessels. A quantity of worked flint was also recovered (31 pieces in total), including one blade, three scrapers and one unfinished arrowhead. The pit was partially sealed by a metalled surface relating to Phase III.

Though polypod vessels are a recognised part of the Beaker assemblage and are associated with the Wessex/Middle Rhine group of Beaker wares, they are still considered to be a very rare occurrence on Beaker sites. It should be noted, however, that the best-known example of this type of vessel in Ireland comes from the excavations at Newgrange. The most unusual find from the site, though, is what would appear to be the handle of a pottery vessel, recovered from the upper fill of C14. Handled Beaker vessels are well documented from British contexts but are not normally associated with the Beaker assemblage in Ireland. Further comment must await specialist analysis of this item.

The second pit, C17, was oval and measured 2.4m by 1.6m, with a depth of 0.39m. Its fills were characterised by burnt material (mainly charcoal and burnt bone). Again a significant quantity of early Bronze Age pottery was recovered (c. 80 sherds), most of which appears to be of Beaker type, though this has still to be confirmed by a specialist. This assemblage also included another foot from a polypod vessel, giving a total of six examples from this site. The pit was sealed by a metalled surface relating to Phase III, which had partially slumped into it.

In the north-east corner of the site a pair of shallow slot-trenches aligned north-west to south-east were identified. However, any clear evidence of an associated structure was lost owing to the heavy truncation around the site boundary caused by machine activity prior to excavation. As a result of this truncation it was not possible to ascertain the full extent of either trench.

Phase III
Phase III was the final phase of activity at the site. It was mainly defined by the rough metalled surface, C20, which measured 11m by 7m and sealed both of the Phase II pits. However, the eastern and southern edges of the surface had been heavily truncated by machinery prior to any excavation on site, so that its original extent could not be determined.

Contemporary with the metalled surface was a medium-sized stone-filled pit, C16. It was suboval in shape, measuring 0.85m by 0.45m, with a depth of 0.37m. It truncated both the large Phase II pit, C14, and the earlier Phase I pit, C23. The fill of the pit was very stony and produced a small quantity of Beaker-type pottery.

A second small pit (C5) in the north-east corner of the site slightly truncated the terminal of the western slot-trench. This pit measured 1.03m by 0.79m with a depth of 0.21m, and again had a very stony fill, with a high proportion of burnt stone. Patches of pinkish-brown burnt clay along the edges of the cut could suggest some in situ burning. Despite the large quantities of charcoal from the fills of the various features at the site, this is the only indication of in situ burning found.

Discussion
Though Site 12 was small, the material it produced was extremely rich. The overall impression is one of domestic activity, with the various pit fills probably being the result of the clearance of accumulated habitation debris. Any clear evidence of an associated structure, as indicated by the pair of aligned slot-trenches C8 and C10, was, however, lost owing to the heavy truncation around the site by machinery prior to excavation.

The pottery evidence indicates a late Neolithic to early Bronze Age date for the site. The rare finds of the remains of polypod vessels and a handled vessel, as well as the sheer quantity of pottery from the site, may suggest rich/high-status occupation.

It is also worth noting that a high-quality and rich Beaker assemblage was also present at Site 10, less than 100m to the north. Though there were two later phases of occupation at Site 10, it is possible that the Beaker material from Phase I at this site may indicate broad contemporaneity with the neighbouring Site 12. However, detailed specialist analysis of the material from both sites is needed to confirm this. One final feature that links both Sites 10 and 12, as well as Site 13 to the south, is (with the possible exception of C5) the absence of any evidence for a hearth or any in situ burning at any of the sites despite the frequent presence of burnt and charcoal-rich deposits.

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