2007:1313 - Site 10, Garadice, Meath

The excavation of Site 10, Garadice, was carried out between May and July 2007. The site was identified in January 2007 during testing carried out on the route of the Phase 2 Summerhill to Kilcock section of the realignment scheme of the R158, undertaken on behalf of Meath County Council.
The excavation encompassed an area which measured 100m north–south by 17m in maximum width, tapering to a point to the north. It was situated on a prominent rise in the general landscape, located c. 240m north-west of Garadice Castle (ME049–002), a ruined tower-house. An additional, previously unknown, site, Site 11, a medieval settlement which was also excavated during this current scheme of works, was located c. 200m south of Site 10 (see No. 1314 below, 07E0295).
A range of archaeological features was exposed during the excavation; these were interpreted as part of a medieval settlement, including corn-drying kilns, metalled surfaces, ditches, pits, post- and stake-holes. A second phase of medieval activity was identified, as two separate groups of inhumations were located within the site, truncating a kiln in one location. There was no association between these two groups; it is, however, likely both are of late medieval or possibly early post-medieval date. A curvilinear ditch located along the current road was identified as post-medieval in date and may relate to the road, which has been identified in documentary sources as having been in place since the early 16th century, and possibly earlier. This can be interpreted as the last phase of archaeological activity within the site, and the ditch truncated a number of medieval features and one grave-cut, suggesting a substantial amount of time had passed between these phases of activity.
Finds consisted of pottery, ferrous objects and a small number of glass beads. The medieval pottery consisted mainly of local wares of 12th–14th-century date, with the exception of two assemblages of possible souterrain ware, which may constitute the remains of the earliest phase of activity on the site. The metal finds consisted of corroded ferrous objects, of which the majority are of possible medieval date. The glass beads were from medieval contexts, although a more specific date for these is expected from radiocarbon dating of relevant contexts.