2007:1463 - Moneygall, Offaly

Phased archaeological investigations were carried out at a greenfield site on the Cloughjordan Road, Moneygall, Co. Offaly, between October 2007 and February 2008. The proposed development involves the construction of fifteen houses on and near the site of OF046–017, an earthwork.
Initial testing carried out by Brian Halpin in October 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1421) ‘uncovered a series of linear features of unknown date, a subcircular feature, the possible remains of a Bronze Age burnt spread or potboiler but there were no traces of the earthwork uncovered’ (quoted from Brian Halpin’s Testing Report prepared by the National Archaeological Services Ltd under licence No. 04E1359).
Further work carried out in October 2007 exposed the remains of the enclosing ditch associated with the earthwork. Following consultations with the National Monuments Service it was agreed that the monument be tested and preserved in situ by covering the exposed archaeological remains.
Investigations at the site exposed the circuit of the enclosing ditch and a further seven archaeological features. Test excavation of the three trenches through the enclosing ditch to the west, east and south of the monument exposed an extant defensive fosse generally measuring 6m wide at the top, with sloping sides breaking to an uneven base. The ditch had an average depth of 1.5m and was broadly U-shaped in profile. Stratigraphically the exposed profiles were generally uniform, consisting of an upper silty fill overlying a lower sandier deposit. The only finds retrieved included fragments of animal bone, found in the lower contexts. The stratigraphy was consistent with natural silting at the base of the trench over a prolonged period followed by the levelling of the monument in the 19th century and infilling of the remains of the ditch with the internal bank material. Despite the destruction of the monument and subsequent agricultural activity the enclosing defensive fosse survived extant below ground. Further testing within the enclosure in advance of ground-reduction work revealed seven features. These comprised two plough furrows and assorted pits, one of which was backfilled with stone and was probably of recent provenance. No datable artefacts were recovered from the remaining pits.
On the outskirts of the enclosure a number of other features were investigated. These included a sterile linear trench, two associated pits, one circular and the other rectangular, both of which were backfilled with burnt stone, and four assorted pits, none of which contained datable artefacts.
The limited investigations carried out at Moneygall did not constitute a comprehensive investigation of the archaeology of the site. Work was limited to an agreed brief in order to preserve the site in situ, to examine the enclosing ditch and resolve any surface features exposed during topsoil-stripping work in the October phase. Following these investigations the site was covered in geotextile and sand to provide a protective buffer in advance of development.