County: Meath Site name: PLATIN (11F02)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 06E0246
Author: Jo Ronayne, ADS Ltd.
Site type: Field boundary
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 706062m, N 771728m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.684500, -6.394362
The site was discovered during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the route of the proposed south–north gas pipeline to be constructed by Bord Gáis Éireann. The site was located in the townland of Platin, Drogheda, close to an old railway line. The excavation took place on 4–24 April 2006, with a team of ten people.
It consisted of a north-west/south-east linear ditch feature, c. 2.6m wide, and its length spanned the width of the pipeline corridor. It measured 1–2m deep. The remnants of a stone setting/wall structure were visible on both sides, especially on the south-west side. During monitoring it was identified as a possible souterrain, but on excavation it appeared to be a post-medieval field boundary with some evidence of walled sides, possibly also used as a drain at some point. Six sections were excavated in which a number of post-medieval finds were recovered. These included pottery, stone artefacts, glass and metal from the railway construction. The rest of the ditch was left in situ. The artefacts and archive are stored in the ADS post-ex facility in Kells. A stratigraphic report is due early in 2007.
Windsor House, 11 Fairview Strand, Dublin 3
