County: Meath Site name: LISDORNAN (Area 1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: ME028–013 Licence number: 06E0139
Author: Jo Ronayne, ADS Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 712495m, N 767777m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.647664, -6.298443
Testing was carried out at Area 1 in Lisdornan townland, Co. Meath, on 20 February 2006 in advance of pre-construction works by Bord Gáis Éireann on the south–north gas pipeline. It was located in Field 1 at Road Crossing 7 on the pipeline route. Area 1 is RMP site ME028–013, described as ‘a large circular earthen mound, which may have had a small fosse surrounding it on the south and west originally. The portion to the south has been modified and shaped in modern times. A roadway skirts the east side and a large segment has been removed from the north side. It is sited on a sloping summit of a high ridge on good grassland. The land is slightly higher to the south. The width at the top varies from 8.5m to 13m.’
The aim of the testing was to investigate anomalies detected by a geophysical survey in the vicinity of the motte. A linear feature orientated north–south was identified c. 10m from the western end of the trench. It contained a topsoil-like fill and stones at the base and appeared to be a post-medieval drainage ditch or field boundary. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered in the test-trench. No artefacts were recovered from spreading the spoil from the trench.
Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Dublin 3
