2002:1430 - BETAGHSTOWN, Bettystown, Meath

Testing took place at Betaghstown townland, Bettystown, Co. Meath. The site is on a plot of pastureland measuring c. 5.3ha on the outskirts of Bettystown village and is the location of a new development that will form part of the proposed town centre. The development will involve the construction of a hotel, residential blocks, retail and commercial buildings, including two basement areas, associated services and surface car-parking.

A total of 25 trenches were excavated by a mechanical digger fitted with a toothless bucket. Any archaeological features uncovered were excavated by hand in a limited area to establish their date, depth and state of preservation.

Trenches 1–18 were excavated in the field immediately east of the demolished remains of Triton Lodge. Trenches 19–25 were excavated in the field west of the remains of Triton Lodge.

Nineteen trenches contained features that appeared to be archaeological. The most significant were a partially exposed arc of a circular ring-ditch, 0.8–0.9m wide, a disarticulated human burial, and two areas of burning. These features were uncovered on the gently sloping, north–south-running ridge that dominates the terrain in this area. These features suggest that the area has been subject to intensive archaeological activity.

Little of archaeological significance was uncovered in the field west of the remains of Triton Lodge.

In total 53 features were revealed during testing; 23 were of definite archaeological importance, and three features were deemed to be of possible archaeological significance. Two of the features were modern field drains; ten were indeterminate remnants of artificial cuts/depositions, and a further fifteen were fills of a non-archaeological nature.

Unit 48, Westlink Enterprise Centre, 30–50 Distillery Street, Belfast BT12 5BJ