2004:1180 - TESTING AREA 6, BARONSTOWN/ COLLIERSTOWN/SKREEN, Meath

An assessment was carried out in advance of the planned M3 Clonee-North of Kells PPP scheme, Co. Meath, on the Dunshaughlin-Navan section (Contract 2) between February and June 2004. This section of the scheme is c. 15.5km long from the townland of Roestown, north-west of Dunshaughlin, to the townland of Ardsallagh, south-west of Navan town. The EIS recommended testing any known or possible sites identified and Meath County Council further proposed to test the whole of the remainder of the route. For the purposes of testing, this section was divided into 26 testing areas. The assessment methodology generally consisted of mechanically excavating 2m-wide test-trenches along the centre-line and perpendicular to the centre-line to the edge of the land-take every 20m. The work was carried out on behalf of Meath County Council, the National Roads Design Office and the National Roads Authority.

Testing Area 6 is located in the townlands of Baronstown, Collierstown and Skreen between Chainages 26600 and 27050. Within this area 3685m2 out of a total of 40,566 m2 was test-trenched, providing an assessment coverage of 9%. A geophysical survey of Testing Area 6 identified an enclosure in Field 2. This enclosure is situated within a virtually circular field (diameter c. 170m); it had an internal diameter of 40.5m by 41.6m and an external diameter of 48.4m by 46.9m. This enclosure was also noted during the assessment phase of works and was designated Baronstown 1. The enclosure ditch had a maximum width of 4.08m and reached a maximum depth of 0.96m.

The presence of features within this enclosure was also confirmed. These consisted of a linear feature, two pit features and a possible hearth. A small semi- circular feature that was identified towards the centre of this enclosure on the geophysical data was also identified in the test-trenches. The only finds recovered from this site consisted of three sherds of Bronze Age pottery that were recovered from the fill of a pit that was located within the enclosure ditch.

External features were also identified and consisted of six ditches. Some of these outer ditches may have functioned as outer enclosure ditches and were also visible on the geophysical data. The western extent of the site was also covered in the built-up material. This built-up material appeared to be archaeological in nature and also appeared to have been deposited in order to build up this side of the site, where a steep slope was visible.

It is likely that this site represents the remains of a settlement site. This is suggested by the presence of animal bone, which is indicative of waste. Animal bone was recovered from most features sectioned within the site. The presence of internal features, including a possible structure, a hearth feature, and what appear to be refuse pits, are also indicative of settlement. The absence of finds from this site makes it difficult to date. The only finds recovered were sherds of prehistoric pottery of probable Middle to Late Bronze Age date recovered from one feature. This, coupled with the recovery of a prehistoric pot (also probably of Bronze Age date) from the neighbouring field, indicates Bronze Age activity on the site.

It is more likely, however, that the enclosures are of an early medieval date. The site is similar in morphology to early medieval sites excavated throughout the Irish countryside. It probably represents the remains of a small ringfort that had associated outer enclosure ditches (these may be contemporary features or may represent later additions). The location of this site was also typical of the majority of ringfort sites: a predominant position with a good view of the surrounding landscape. Ringforts vary from 25m to 50m in diameter and are usually circular in shape. The enclosure at Baronstown 1 was almost circular in shape with average internal dimensions of 41m and average external dimensions of 47.5m.

The site at Baronstown 1, in all likelihood, represents a protected enclosure around a farmstead and was possibly erected at some stage during the early medieval period.

A second site was identified at Collierstown 2 and was located 114m south of Baronstown 1. It consisted of a single pit that contained the remains of a small pot, which measured 0.26m by 0.32m approximately. The rim of this pot was visible and it appeared to be Bronze Age in date.