County: Meath Site name: CROSSAKIEL
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0446
Author: Ruth Elliott, for Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure and Pit
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 664655m, N 774272m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.714300, -7.017500
The site, located on one side of a small hill just outside the village of Crossakiel, was the subject of testing between 29 April and 3 May in advance of a residential development. The surrounding landscape contains a number of monuments, primarily ringforts and enclosure sites. There is a tumulus recorded in the centre of the village and two cist burials 1km north-east of the site. No features were visible within the greenfield site, but relatively large boulders were incorporated within the field boundary for the site, one of which displayed possible rock art in the form of an inscribed chevron. This suggested that the boulders might have constituted the remains of an archaeological structure.
A number of potential archaeological features were uncovered within the northern and north-eastern parts of the site during testing. These included a possible ditch, which appeared to curve around the upper contour of the small hill, and two oval-shaped features containing charcoal-enriched soil and burnt stone. These latter may have represented pits and one featured in situ burning.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
