County: Meath Site name: CASTLEFARM (Testing Area 1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0485
Author: Robert O'Hara, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Habitation site and Field boundary
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 699923m, N 741346m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.412778, -6.496963
An assessment of M3 Contract 1 (Clonee–Dunshaughlin), Testing Area 1, along the proposed route of the Dunboyne link road south (Chainage 0–350) was requested by Meath County Council. Located in the townland of Castlefarm, it comprised two fields separated by a large ditched hedgerow. Geophysical survey had identified a number of possible archaeological deposits within this area.
Thirty-three test-trenches were excavated through the area, with a combined length of 1494m (resulting in a total excavated area of 3212m2). The assessment determined that some of the geophysical anomalies were pits, post-holes, occupation spreads, ditches and other linear features, probably of medieval date, although this could not be satisfactorily proven through test excavation. The location of these features in the townland of Castlefarm suggest that the site could have formed part of the Anglo-Norman manor of Dunboyne.
The principal feature noted was a 2m-wide by c. 1m-deep ditch that defined the southernmost extent of the known archaeological features and contained large quantities of animal bone, charcoal and concentrations of metallurgical waste. A bone pin fragment was recovered from this feature along with a number of complete deer antlers. Linear features may represent field divisions or drains, while spreads of occupation debris may conceal further settlement remains.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
