County: Meath Site name: DUNSHAUGHLIN TO CASTLETOWN TARA
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1499
Author: Red Tobin, RedArc Ltd.
Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 690526m, N 760807m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.589312, -6.632648
Testing has been ongoing along the route of a sewer pipeline linking wastewater treatment plants at Dunshaughlin and Castletown Tara, Co. Meath. The pipeline broadly follows the course of the River Skane, a tributary that enters the River Boyne to the south of Navan. Test-trenching has been carried out at eight areas of archaeological potential that were pre-defined during extensive field-walking in August and September of 2004. The route of the pipeline passes through a variety of archaeological landscapes and, while the impact of the scheme is limited by the 20m width of the wayleave corridor, it is likely that the project will impact on archaeological remains.
Monitoring from Ambrose Bridge, at Castletown Tara, exposed four fulachta fiadh or burnt mounds on the townland of Bellinter, Co. Meath. Three of these sites were directly impacted on and have been excavated (see No. 1182, Excavations 2004, 04E1462). The fourth site was preserved in situ.
Testing from Balgeeth to Kilmessan took place between 22 November and 17 December 2004 using a thirteen-tonne mechanical excavator with a 2mwide ditching blade. A standard testing strategy was adopted whereby a centre trench is excavated along the pipe trench and offset trenches are positioned at approximate right angles and at 10m intervals on opposite sides of the centre trench within the proposed wayleave.
Testing confirmed the presence of six archaeological sites along the course of the River Skane between the townlands of Riverstown and Kilmessan. Initial observation of these sites confirms that all contain characteristic firing material associated with possible burnt mounds or fulachta fiadh. In addition, four areas of potential archaeological significance were identified within this area. These are characterised by their location within particularly low-lying areas which are liable to flooding, wherein a number of pieces of butchered animal bone were recovered.
Testing will recommence in early 2005.
Archaeological Services, 35 Brook Meadow, Avoca, Co. Wicklow
