County: Westmeath Site name: CORRELSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1146
Author: Steve Linnane, ACS Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 655790m, N 747553m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.475061, -7.159589
Testing was carried out before construction of the proposed M4 Kinnegad–Enfield–Kilcock Motorway Scheme. In February 2002, during centre-line testing of the motorway carried out by Ian Russell under licence 02E0108 (No. 1876, Excavations 2002), ditches, an oxidised spread and possible pits were identified. The site was designated Correlstown and was excavated in October 2002. A large area around the possible features was stripped of topsoil to a maximum depth of 0.3m, and the natural gravel was exposed. Excavation confirmed that the ditch features were in fact field drains and agricultural furrows. The charcoal-flecked pits proved to be caused by root activity, and it is likely that these relate to land clearance. Similarly, the spreads of oxidised clay were of recent origin and were most likely caused by the burning of vegetation during land clearance. In addition, numerous plough furrows were identified on the surface, representing intensive agricultural activity in this area. None of the excavated features proved to be archaeological.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
