2004:1247 - HARLOCKSTOWN, Meath

This excavation was undertaken as part of the archaeological mitigation in advance of the N2 Finglas–Ashbourne road scheme (Appendix II). Pre-development testing was carried out under this licence by David Bonner 2003. This identified a small sub-oval pit or trough and an adjacent area of burnt-mound material, within a linear cut, Site 31 (previously designated Testing Area 31), partially exposed within the main route of the development. The licence was transferred to Cara Murray in February 2004. The excavation was carried out on 13–16 April 2004. The site was not visible prior to testing.

This section of the development is located west of the existing N2 and north of the R125 Ratoath–Swords road, in a field that was in agricultural production prior to the development works. Site 31 (OD 66.94m) was situated on a level terrace in the south-western corner of this field, with wetter ground in the adjacent field, beyond the development footprint. A deep drainage ditch, which formed the field boundary, occurred immediately to the south and a new haul-road had been constructed to the east.

Excavation revealed a trough-like pit and an adjacent area of burnt-mound material, within an apparent linear cut, partially exposed along the western edge of the development footprint. The trough-like pit was subcircular in form, 1.15m (northeast/south-west) by 0.88m and 0.17m deep. It was filled with charcoal-rich fine clay that contained burnt stone and pebbles. Situated c. 2.6m to the southwest, along the western edge of the road-take footprint, was a more substantial deposit of charcoal-rich silty clay, burnt stones and pebbles. As exposed, this deposit was 1.6m (east-west) by 2.1m and 0.26m deep, as it was only partially clipped by the development footprint. It had also been partially removed at the southern end by the field boundary ditch. This material was contained within the partially exposed linear cut. This cut measured 2.1m (north-east/south-west) by 1.6m and 0.26m deep. It may have formed the eastern edge of a shallow, wide trough or pit or the remains of the fulacht mound. Although it is not possible to accurately determine the form or function of this feature, it was clearly a long shallow cut, completely sealed by mound material. Also associated with these features were two small deposits of charred material located to the north-east and north-west of the trough-like pit, possibly truncated burnt-mound residue that filled a natural hollow. These deposits were 0.26–0.52m wide and 0.65m long and were very shallow, only 0.02–0.03m deep. All these features had been partially impacted upon by later drainage features and cultivation furrows. No artefacts were recovered from this site.

Unit 8, Ashcourt, Ashbourne Industrial Estate, Ashbourne, Co. Meath