County: Westmeath Site name: GRIFFINSTOWN 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 02E1142
Author: Deirdre Murphy, ACS Ltd.
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 656548m, N 746767m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.467919, -7.148316
Test-trenching 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 (No. 1876, Excavations 2002, 02E0108), a linear feature and two possible pits were identified. The site was designated Griffinstown 1 and was excavated in September 2002. A large area around the possible features was stripped of topsoil, and the sod and topsoil combined were 0.4m deep. Four pits and two intersecting agricultural furrows were exposed. Three of the pits formed a right angle and were 1–2m apart. They were circular, 0.5–0.6m in diameter and 0.2–0.3m deep. One of these pits contained charcoal in the fill and a clay-pipe stem. The fourth pit was nearby; it was rectangular, measuring 1.25m by 1m, and 0.2m deep. It appears that these pits are post-medieval to modern, as suggested by the presence of the clay-pipe stem.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
