County: Westmeath Site name: FARTHINGSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A001/085
Author: John Tierney, Eachtra Archaeological Projects, Ballycurreen Industrial Estate, Kinsale Road, Cork.
Site type: Field boundary
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 646447m, N 739110m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.400097, -7.301561
Excavations were undertaken in advance of realignment of the N6, between Kinnegad and Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath, in 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1748, 04E0908). Farthingstown 11 was one of six areas of archaeological potential uncovered in Farthingstown townland, near the western end of the scheme.
During the initial testing, an area of in situ burning was observed in the eastern section face of Trench 5. This burnt deposit was interpreted as a possible hearth. A relict field boundary, orientated from north-east to south-west, was also observed in Trenches 2 and 3. On 25 January 2005 the site was reopened in order to excavate the in situ burning and also to confirm the extent of the ditch. The outline of the raised field boundary was noted along the western edge of the trench and 5.3m from its south-west corner. The ditch feature was U-shaped in section and was cut into the stony grey marl layer. It had two distinct fills: one topsoil-like deposit, 0.26m in depth, and a lighter layer, 0.3m deep. A possible charcoal deposit was located close to the southern edge of the square and within the centre of Trench 5, but upon excavation it was interpreted as a natural manganese deposit.
