2007:1311 - Site 12, Ferrans, Meath

The excavation of Site 12, Ferrans, was carried out in April 2007. Site 12 consisted of a small number of pits and spreads excavated as part of the archaeological resolution in advance of the road realignment of the R158 between Kilcock and Summerhill. The site was identified in January 2007 during testing carried out in advance of this work, undertaken on behalf of Meath County Council. The site was located in a low-lying area to the east of and within the realignment of the R158 this. Site 12 was located 20m north of Site 13, a possible fulacht fiadh/burnt spread (see No. 1312, 07E0161 below), which was also excavated within this scheme.
The zone of archaeological deposits encompassed an area measuring 15.5m north–south by 9m and was situated at 92m OD. The excavation revealed three pits and four spreads, which contained occasional inclusions of charcoal and burnt-stone fragments. The spreads were shallow and irregular in plan, mainly formed in depressions in the uneven surface of the site. The largest spread was located in the western part of the site and extended beyond the limit of the excavation. The pits were shallow and oval/subcircular in plan, although with clearly defined cuts. The single find recovered consisted of a glazed sherd of medieval pottery of 14–15th-century date, which was retrieved from a small spread. The preliminary interpretation of the site is that it is of late medieval date and that the features may relate to a settlement located beyond the limit of the excavation.