2009:650 - MONGHALLIAGH, Meath

Two phases of pre-development testing were carried out at Monghalliagh, Clonard, Co. Meath. The proposed development site is located c. 100m north of ME047–004 (motte) and ME047–008 (field system). The first phase of testing took place in January 2009. Six trenches were opened across the proposed development site, revealing archaeological features within all but one of the trenches.
Trench 1 was a large curvilinear trench on the footprint of the proposed driveway. It measured c. 148m in length. Topsoil averaged 0.45m in depth. Four archaeological features were identified within Trench 1. Two ditches were exposed, one of which contained a medieval potsherd. A pit and associated linear feature were also uncovered within this trench.
Trench 2 measured 80m in length and topsoil averaged 0.5m in depth. Two pits located 12m apart were sectioned, revealing depths of 0.32m and 0.55m. One contained animal bone and charcoal. Another feature, containing two distinct deposits, was located further south within the trench and an archaeological origin is considered likely.
Trench 3 measured 80m in length. Topsoil varied in depth from 0.36m to 0.68m. Two linear features and a pear-shaped pit were revealed within this
trench. The pit may be a hearth/furnace as it contained much charcoal and occasional heat-shattered stone.
Trench 4 measured 96m in length. The first feature uncovered was irregular in shape and contained a fill of mid-grey/brown silty sand with frequent small angular stone, charcoal flecks, animal bone and shell fragments. A large piece of slag was retrieved from the surface of this feature. Two adjoining linear features, possibly a slot-trench, with associated post-holes and a stake-hole, were uncovered in this trench. A section through one arm of the linear feature showed the cut had a sharp break of slope at the top and base, the base being V-shaped in profile. Its fill comprised charcoal-rich silty clay with many charcoal lumps and occasional large angular stones. One piece of burnt bone was retrieved from the fill. Further north, a curvilinear feature proved quite shallow on inspection, just 0.04m in depth, revealing burnt clay at the base of the cut. This was interpreted as another possible slot-trench.
Trench 5 revealed no archaeological features, while a curvilinear ditch was the only feature of note in Trench 6.
The second phase of testing concentrated on the features directly impacted on by the proposed dwelling-house. These were the linear and curvilinear features uncovered within Trench 4. An area of 15m by 7m was opened, revealing the previously uncovered features and a large number of associated features. The main features revealed were F21 (exposed in Phase 1), which extended for an exposed length of 7.5m. This may be associated with F22 (also exposed in Phase 1), which extended for a length of 3.6m. F22 overlies/truncates F23, a possible ditch orientated east–west. Features 25–30 were possible furrows orientated east–west and appear to truncate F21 and F26. F26 was a charcoal-rich linear feature measuring 4.85m in length. F27 was an L-shaped linear feature measuring 3.4m and truncated by two furrows. F31, 32, 33 and 35 are linear features which appeared to connect ditches F23 and F34. F34 was a linear feature, possibly a ditch measuring 1.3m in width. F36–39 were possible post-holes which did not form any obvious pattern but appeared to be associated with ditch F23.
The area was photographed, planned and, on completion of recording, covered in polythene and reinstated within the topsoil.