County: Meath Site name: SKREEN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: ME032-047 Licence number: 05E0321
Author: Ciara McCarthy, for Arch-Tech Ltd.
Site type: Settlement deserted - medieval
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 695238m, N 760507m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.585783, -6.561592
Monitoring was carried out in May 2005 at a house site at Skreen, Co. Meath. The site lay within the constraint zone of a deserted settlement. Ten features of archaeological significance were identified, including a number of pits and two floor surfaces. Excavation was carried out in June 2005.
The site consisted of two compact clay floor surfaces. The floor surfaces measured an average 4.2m east–west by 2.4m and were a maximum 0.14m in depth. Both surfaces extended beyond the edge of excavation. Scorched areas were identified on both, indicating the location of a hearth. No remains of any surviving structural elements were identified. A corn-drying kiln and a number of pits were identified to the immediate east of the floor surfaces. A latrine was located on the outer fringes of the settlement area; it was square in plan and measured 1.3m north–south by 1.05m on the surface and was 1.75m deep. A moderate amount of bone, wood and environmental material was recovered from the bottom fills. The latrine had been sealed with a dump of stones.
Eighty-seven sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the site. The assemblage reflects a reliance on Irish wares, with 47% of the sherds being Dublin-type ware (Noelle Mitchell, pers. comm.).
Evidence appears to suggest that this was a domestic settlement dating from the 12th to 14th century, the height of the Anglo-Norman power in Ireland. The pottery recovered would suggest that the main phase of occupation was during the 13th century.
32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
