2005:1150 - ATHRONAN, Meath

The site was excavated as part of the Dunshaughlin to Castletown Tara sewerage scheme. It was located close to the northern boundary of a large field that is currently in pasture. The site was uncovered in the lowest part of the field, which displays a gentle downhill slope from its southern to northern extent. The River Skane passes immediately to the north of the site, so that, in effect, the remains uncovered are situated along the edge of the flood-plain of the river, which is marked by a slight shelf that follows the course of the river.

The site is dominated by a spread of burnt, fulacht-type material measuring 18m by 8m. Several pieces of struck flint were found within the burnt deposit. The earliest episode of activity saw the excavation of a series of thirteen pits and one possible stake-hole located in a small group close to the edge of the flood-plain. It seems likely that these were dug over a relatively short period of time. These seemed to be focused around a central, larger subrectangular pit measuring 2m by 1.2m that was subject to several periods of cleaning out and reuse during its lifetime. This may have included an attempt to ‘landscape’ the pit, by redepositing subsoil to create very straight sides and an almost perfectly rectangular base. This pit seemed to be the focus of the activity on the site, with several other pits located close to it, especially in the level ground to the south and east. Of particular note are four pits that were deeper, circular features with steep sides and a slightly concave base. Each of these was almost identical in terms of dimensions and profiles, although one had been severely truncated in the interim. Each of the pits was c. 1m in diameter and 0.45m deep. Each of these was allowed to silt up over a prolonged period of time after their initial excavation. It seems unlikely that these were simply abandoned after initial excavation and allowed to silt up. Instead it seems more likely that they were intended to act as basins, holding water for a given purpose on site close to the central subrectangular pit, which together with its general size and form suggest it may be a trough.

The area amongst these pits is interspersed with several other smaller pits and a single possible stake-hole. All of these features contain at least one deposit of burnt fulacht-type material, often comprising the entire fill. It seems likely that this material was all deposited in a single episode together with the large spread that dominates the site.

This spread ran parallel to the river on a rough north-west/south-east orientation for 18m before turning slightly towards the north following the line of the river and continuing beyond the bank that marks the northern boundary of the field. This northernmost section of the spread produced nine pieces of struck flint that would seem to indicate at least two flint pebbles being trimmed on site to produce a workable core that may have been taken elsewhere for finishing.

It is clear that the site had been inundated by floodwaters from the river on several occasions. This, together with the effects of hill wash, had deposited a layer of grey silt that covered 90% of the site, sealing the activity described above.

In the western part of the site these silt deposits produced a large limestone blade. Despite the fact that it was recovered from a waterborne deposit, the edges of the blade were noticeably fresh and sharp. An initial examination would suggested that it might date from the late Mesolithic period.

Despite this large amount of burnt material within the site, it is noticeable that there is no evidence of any in situ burning. This would suggest that further related activity may be situated a short distance along the flood-plain to the north-east or west, or immediately to the south. None of this land was disturbed during the sewerage scheme, although the likelihood should be considered ahead of any further work that takes place in the area.

In addition to this prehistoric activity, one possible medieval feature was uncovered close to the southernmost extent of the site. This was a large north-east/south-west-oriented pit that measured 2.4m by 1.6m. Excavation revealed it to be relatively deep, reaching a maximum depth of 0.73m, with steep, almost vertical sides and a fairly level base. At a depth of 0.1–0.12m below the surface of the pit there was a pronounced ridge, measuring about 0.08m wide, that continued around the full extent. In plan this ridge was figure-of-eight-shaped.

Two pieces of abraded green-glazed pottery were recovered from the top fill of a large pit, suggesting a date for this final stage of silting in the medieval period. This fill also contained a few pieces of burnt stone; these were probably deposited as the result of the disturbance of the surrounding burnt deposits by later agricultural activity.

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