County: Meath Site name: NINCH, Laytown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 28:25 Licence number: 01E0723 ext.
Author: John O’Connor, for ADS Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 716437m, N 771543m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.680630, -6.237450
Monitoring of services associated with Phase 3b of a housing development at Ninch, Laytown, Co. Meath, was carried out from 16 December 2002 to 6 January 2003.
Topsoil was stripped using a machine fitted with a toothless grading bucket down to the top of archaeological features or to undisturbed subsoil. The topsoil directly overlay the glacially derived subsoil, which varied from an orange/brown clay with a moderate amount of charcoal inclusions to a yellow sandy clay with areas of gravel.
Nineteen linear features were uncovered, some of which may be modern field drains, but others may be of archaeological significance. Three areas of dark silty clay were also revealed. Two oblong features were uncovered in the eastern part of the site, along with a spread of stones. Fragments of animal bone and evidence of charcoal were also discovered. Further investigations of these features are being carried out under a separate licence and will be reported on in Excavations 2003 (03E0024). Some or all of these features may be associated with the large complex to the east of Phase 3. However, it is also possible that some of the features are the result of modern activity in the field.
2 Walnut Rise, Courtlands, Dublin 9
