2006:1595 - KNOCKHARLEY, Meath

Monitoring associated with phase II of the Knockharley landfill was undertaken over a period of two weeks in June–July 2006. A residual landfill facility was developed at the site in 2004. The facility will be developed in seven separate phases. In 2006 topsoil was stripped from a large field to the north of the existing landfill. Five features of archaeological significance were uncovered in the course of monitoring at the site.

Feature 1, located in the west of the field, consisted of an irregular-shaped deposit of mixed clay and charcoal found at a depth of 0.58m below ground level. The feature as revealed measured 0.47m east–west by 0.35m. Immediately south of this feature a broken pottery vessel was recovered. The vessel appears to have been a jug of post-medieval date with a green glaze on the interior.

Feature 2 was found 0.66m below the existing ground level in the west baulk of the field. This appeared as an irregular-shaped area of dark soil with occasional charcoal inclusions. The feature, which appears to continue into the baulk, measured 1.29m east–west by 0.75m. Two possible medieval pottery fragments were recovered from the top of this feature, while a single fragment of animal bone was recovered from the surrounding area.

Approximately 10m south of Feature 2 a roughly circular area delimited by stones was uncovered in the course of monitoring (Feature 3). Found in an area of mixed clay, it was comprised of stones covering an area 2.2m north–south by 1.96m. The stones were angular in shape with a maximum size of 0.23m by 0.13m. Pottery fragments were recovered from the interior of this feature and the area immediately surrounding it. The pottery was a dark-coloured coarseware of possible medieval date.

Feature 4 was located in the west half of the field directly below topsoil. It consisted of a line of stones extending for a length of 5.6m and forming a roughly subcircular area in the west end.

In the east half of the field a number of stone-filled pits (Feature 5) were uncovered below the topsoil and cut into the natural. At least eight pits were identified in an area covering 30m by 30m. The pits are circular or subcircular in plan and are similar to those encountered in the course of monitoring at the landfill site in 2003. Subsequent excavation of those found in 2003 found that they were filled with burnt stone and charcoal, with radiocarbon dating them at 2400–2500 BC.

It was recommended that all the features identified be excavated prior to any development at the site.