County: Meath Site name: CASTLEFARM (1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A017/001, E3023
Author: Aidan O’Connell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure, Burial ground and Ring-ditch
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 700323m, N 741629m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.415244, -6.490860
The site at Castlefarm 1 is located a short distance south-west of Dunboyne, on the R157 Dunboyne–Maynooth road on the proposed M3 Dunboyne link road south, and was excavated as part of Contract 1 (Dunboyne to Dunshaughlin) of the planned M3 Clonee to north of Kells motorway. It was initially identified through a number of magnetic anomalies of probable archaeological origin during a geophysical survey undertaken by Bartlett-Clark Consultancy in 2002. In 2004 a programme of centreline testing undertaken by Robert O’Hara (Excavations 2004, No. 1198, 04E0485) confirmed the existence of archaeological deposits in the form of numerous pits, spreads and ditches of probable medieval date. Excavations are now complete. A multivallate enclosure dating to the early medieval period has been uncovered.
The inner enclosure ditch (c. 50m diameter) was subcircular in plan and varied greatly in its dimensions. A rich assortment of finds was recovered, including bone pins, a fragment of lignite bracelet and medieval pottery. A decapitated skeleton was also discovered in one of the fills. Animal bone from the primary fill has been radiocarbon dated to AD 450–640. A concentric outer enclosure, radiocarbon dated to AD 770–980, displayed evidence for a possible entrance located at the west side where the ditch narrowed and was filled with medium-sized stones. This was opposite a causewayed entrance of the inner ditch. An annexe was added to this enclosure, which was subsequently recut and replaced by a substantial medieval ditch at the west, north-west and north of the site. Medieval pottery, worked wood (including bucket staves and bottoms) and animal bone (radiocarbon dated to AD 780–980) were recovered.
Eight large pits/wells were identified, seven of which were located between the inner enclosure ditch and the medieval outer enclosure. A silver penannular brooch was discovered in one in association with a copper alloy omega pin. They are all provisionally dated to the early medieval period and possibly associated with a semi-industrial function.
Excavation revealed a total of eleven burials: eight adults, including the abovementioned decapitated skeleton, and one child. Nine of these were orientated east–west.
Prehistoric activity was also observed, in the form of a barrow or ring-ditch and several prehistoric artefacts, including a possible flint arrowhead of petit tranchet type and a Bronze Age disc-headed pin.
21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda
