County: Meath Site name: BALFEAGHAN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 11E065
Author: James Kyle
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 688182m, N 740705m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.409103, -6.673701
Testing was carried out at the site of a proposed distribution road development and flood mitigation works in the townland of Balfeaghan. A geophysical survey carried out by J.M. Leigh Surveys during 2011 (09R206) identified a possible curvilinear pattern of pits, as well as a large number of cultivation furrows and some former field boundaries.
Test-trenching commenced on 7 March 2011 and lasted for two days. A total of 22 trenches were mechanically investigated across the test area, which measured 420m west–east by 300m. No archaeological sites were discovered during the course of the works.
It was originally intended to undertake a metal-detection survey of any upcast material from the River Rye through excavation and spreading of the bank material by mechanical excavator, and a licence was obtained for this purpose (11R029). There was, however, no discernible embankment present along most of the length of the river. A small section of bank (c. 20m long) was extant in the south-western corner of the development area but this was under overhead power lines and could not be assessed at this time.
Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow
