County: Meath Site name: PIERCETOWN/CRADDOCKSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 06E0635
Author: Teresa Bolger, for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
Site type: Enclosure
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 701567m, N 745543m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.450161, -6.470897
An assessment was carried out at a potential development site at Piercetown/Cradockstown, Co. Meath, extending over a c. 56ha area, bounded on the south-west by the N3. A geophysical survey was carried out across all accessible land within the proposed development area by David Harrison (06R083). Two large potential archaeological sites (Sites 1 and 2) were identified in the survey, along with a smaller potential site (Site 3). In addition several small anomalies of possible archaeological potential were also identified throughout the site.
A total of 26 trenches were opened across the site during the course of this investigation. Each of the trenches was positioned so as to intersect with specific anomalies identified by the geophysical survey.
In general the isolated archaeological-type responses did not prove to be of any great significance, although isolated archaeological features were confirmed in three trenches. This investigation did indicate that two substantial enclosure sites are present in the western half of the proposed development area (Sites 1 and 2). Site 1 appears to be a possible D-shaped enclosure; the minimum extent of the site appears to be c. 80m by 55m. The deposits infilling the ditches contained charcoal and high levels of animal bone (indicative of domestic waste), and a couple of pieces of ferric slag were also noted. This would suggest that the site could be a domestic settlement post-dating the Bronze Age (most likely dating to the early medieval period, AD 400–1200). The plan of Site 2 is less well defined, although it also appears be an enclosure with one or more phases, extending over an area of c. 80m by c. 60m. The deposits infilling the ditches contained charcoal and high levels of animal bone (indicative of domestic waste), and a couple of pieces of ferric slag were also noted. This would suggest that the site could also be a domestic settlement post-dating the Bronze Age (probably dating to the early medieval period). The third potential site indicated by the geophysical survey (Site 3) does not appear to be of any archaeological significance.
The results of the test excavation indicate that the geophysical anomalies do not represent archaeological features and are probably the result of underlying geological conditions.
27 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
