2007:1380 - Tromman Quarry, Rathmolyon, Meath

Test-trenching was undertaken as part of a request for further information from Meath County Council in response to a planning application for an extension to Tromman Quarry, Rathmolyon, Co. Meath.
In total 48 trenches were excavated across the southern area of the proposed development. A significant level of potential archaeology was identified, mainly in the east and south of the area.
Fields 1 and 2 were relatively void of archaeological features of potential, with the exception of one or two possible ditches. These were not investigated during this phase of work. Therefore, at this stage it is impossible to say whether they are archaeological or not.
Remains of archaeological significance were identified in Field 5 (the middle field of the proposed development), with c. 25 features being identified. The most significant of these comprised part of a circular ditched structure with internal post-holes and a central hearth. This structure appears to be typically prehistoric in date and could potentially be associated with other (as yet unidentified) structures and an associated landscape. Other features identified in this area include possible pits and post-holes, and ditches that may or may not be archaeologically significant.
To the east of Field 5, Field 3 reveals a very high number of archaeological features. Most significant of these is the presence of a number of human remains. Within the confines of three trenches located on the high ground, 29 separate concentrations of human bone were identified. While some of these may be part of the same burial, the visible remains indicate that there is likely to be a burial-ground of some significance in this area. Furthermore, their east–west orientation indicates a potentially early medieval graveyard. Typically, with similar excavations undertaken in Ireland, the scope of this graveyard could be extensive. Two things are of note with regard to these remains. Firstly, they lie within the remains of what appears to be (both from geophysical survey and testing results) a circular enclosure measuring up to 45–50m in diameter. This ditch was investigated and was found to be up to 5m in width and 1.5m in depth. Secondly, some of the grave-cuts identified were found to truncate linear features, indicating that the linear features were earlier in date. If the burials were found to be early medieval in date, the underlying earlier ditches clearly represent an earlier phase of occupation across this area. Other features identified in the area of the burials suggest that there may be a secondary enclosing ditch within the confines of the outer ditch.
A number of other features were also identified in Field 5. Within the confines of the testing programme, none of these features was investigated and it is therefore impossible to interpret them at this stage. However, it was possible to identify a number of pits, post-holes and kilns as being archaeologically significant.
The final field assessed during this phase of work (Field 4) also produced a significant burial-ground. Centred upon the high point of the mound and surrounded in part by a ditch, a minimum of fourteen individual grave-cuts, along with other burials identified during testing, were recorded which comprised infant and neo-natal burials to the north and adult burials to the south. As with those identified in Field 3, all were oriented east–west, indicating an early medieval date at the earliest.
To the south of these burials, potential fulachta fiadh material was found close to the stream. Such material is typical of this location and is typically prehistoric in date.
Discussions were entered into with the DoEHLG and the proposed development was altered to ensure that the archaeological remains will be preserved in situ and will not be impacted upon by the development.