2006:1496 - KILLEGLAND, Ashbourne, Meath

Monitoring was undertaken on a portion of a proposed residential development at Killegland, Ashbourne. The monitoring concentrated on the proposed roads and service areas for the development. Only part of the topsoil-stripping, associated with the residential development, was monitored under this licence. In August 2006, monitoring was taken over by John Kavanagh under a new licence (see No. 1499, Excavations 2006).

This phase of monitoring of topsoil-stripping was undertaken from May 2006 until August 2006. The work was undertaken mechanically using up to three 3600-tracked excavators fitted with toothless grading buckets. Five areas of archaeological significance were identified during the course of monitoring and these were protected by temporary fencing in advance of discussions with the client and the DoEHLG regarding mitigation. Two of the areas (designated Road 1 North and Road 2) comprised a series of features believed to be medieval in date. These were subsequently excavated under licence 06E0779 (see No. 1497, Excavations 2006). The third area (designated Road 3) comprised part of an enclosure of undetermined date. This area was excavated under licence 06E0782 (see No. 1498, Excavations 2006).

The fourth area (designated Road 1 Upper) was located to the west of the graveyard, which is presumed to be the location of early medieval activity. The findings in this area appeared to confirm this, with a number of ditches and pits being recorded. In addition, a large curvilinear ditch appeared to echo the curve of the extant graveyard wall. This ditch is a substantial feature, being c. 5m wide and c. 2m deep. Within the confines of the enclosure ditch, a souterrain was also recorded and is typical of early medieval activity. A number of other linear ditches were also recorded and three fragments of lignite bracelets were retrieved, again typical of early medieval activity. Only limited assessment of these features was undertaken. The area was subsequently resolved by another archaeological contractor.

The final area (designated Road 8) comprised two features located 80m to the west of Road 1 North. Due to time constraints, both features were resolved under the remit of the monitoring licence. The first was a shallow rounded pit that had been subject to oxidisation through in situ burning, with a single fill. No artefacts were retrieved from the fill and the date or function of this pit could not be determined. Located to the north of the pit, the remains of a kiln were excavated. Two phases of use within the kiln were recorded, with the original phase having three fills recorded, while a secondary recut truncated the earlier fills. No date was attained for these features.

32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2