County: Meath Site name: TOWLAGH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1623
Author: Sinclair Turrell, Archaeological Development Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 671585m, N 745724m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.456711, -6.922124
Six trial-trenches were excavated at Towlagh, Clonard, Co. Meath, on 2–6 December 2004, before the third phase of a residential development. The development site was just south of the canalised course of the Kilwarden River, close to two enclosure sites and a prominent oval earthwork (SMR 47:3), perhaps a raised rath.
Excavation revealed peaty deposits to the east of the site, 0.1–0.4m thick, immediately overlying the waterlogged sand and gravel subsoil. More substantial peat deposits in the north-east corner, next to the river, contained much natural timber, probably carried there by water. To the west of the site, where a poor, thin topsoil overlay compacted natural clay, there was evidence of modern land improvement, with hedges removed, the ground levelled off and attempts made to improve the drainage. No archaeological objects or deposits were found during the course of these trial excavations.
Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3
