County: Meath Site name: Knockharley
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0788 ext.
Author: Martin Fitzpatrick, Arch Consultancy Ltd, New Line, Athenry, Co. Galway.
Site type: Pits, drainage feature and possible well
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 494075m, N 575233m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.919148, -9.539879
In September 2010 excavation of a number of features was undertaken at the site of a landfill development at Knockharley, Co. Meath. The majority of the features were first identified during monitoring/testing undertaken in 2006 (Excavations 2006, No. 1595, 04E0788). The features consisted of irregular-shaped pits filled with stone and charcoal, a possible well feature and a stone drain. The pits were excavated at a number of different locations within a large field and varied in depth from 0.2–0.55m. In general they were subcircular or rounded in plan. The fills generally consisted of stone and occasional charcoal. One animal tooth was recovered from the base of one of the pit features.
A possible holy well is recorded from the area. It consisted of a partly stone-lined feature measuring 2.1m x 1.55m and was recorded as having a depth of 0.48–0.55m. The possible well was located close to a field boundary and when uncovered was heavily overgrown. The water from the feature was drained and the interior recorded. Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered from the feature which appears as a natural water-filled hollow which is fed from a spring and the drains of the surrounding fields.
