2005:1196 - KILLEEN CASTLE, KILLEEN, Meath

Killeen Demesne is located 2.5 miles north-west of Dunshaughlin and contains the castle itself, the adjacent abbey (SMR 38:13), a holy well (38:30) and a wayside cross (38:14). It is being redeveloped as a hotel and golf resort. Prior to the present works, the site was subject to three test excavation programmes, by Rosanne Meenan in 1996 (Excavations 1996, No. 309, 96E0001) and 1999 (Excavations 1999, No. 692, 96E0001 ext.), and by John Ó Néill in 2000 (Excavations 2000, No. 758, 00E0067), none of which identified archaeological features. Monitoring commenced in January 2005 and continued on an intermittent basis throughout the year. Two sites of archaeological significance were identified.
Site A could not be avoided and was subsequently excavated (see No. 1200 below, 05E0303). Site B was identified during the stripping for a sewer, revealing evidence for both burial and habitation. A geophysical survey (05R030) was undertaken by Jo Leigh to determine the extent of the site. Skeletal remains were identified 0.3m below the current ground level and cut into subsoil. In total, ten burials, aligned east–west, were confirmed. These can be divided into four grave cuts and six stone-lined (lintel) graves. The preservation of the human bone is poor.
The results of the preliminary clean-back, co-ordinated with the geophysical survey results, can be interpreted as an inner enclosure, c. 22m in diameter, containing burials. This enclosure appears to form an element of a second inner enclosure, c. 40m in diameter, the area between the two being characterised by a possible structure and accompanying habitation evidence (pits, ditches, surfaces, etc.). To the north there is an intersection with a large outer enclosure, c. 58m in diameter, which in turn intersects with a possibly earlier enclosure and field annexes. On the basis of the recovery of a ringed polyhedral-headed pin with a twin link motif on one side and a saltire on the other (Fanning 1994, 26), it can be concluded that the site was active in the 10th century AD (although both earlier and later usage cannot be precluded).
The development was subject to redesign to allow for preservation in situ.
Reference
Fanning, T. 1994 Viking Age ringed pins from Dublin, Medieval Dublin Excavations 1962–81, Ser. B, Vol. 4, R.I.A.