County: Meath Site name: DOLANSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 11E239; 11R87
Author: Fintan Walsh
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 688582m, N 740625m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.408318, -6.667710
Testing was undertaken in advance of a proposed distribution road and associated works at Dolanstown, Kilcock. This assessment followed on from an EIS that was submitted for the area. A geophysical survey was also undertaken by J.M. Leigh Surveys (11R89) prior to the testing. This survey identified three areas of archaeological potential (Areas A, B and C), comprising an area of numerous responses with no clear archaeological pattern (Area A), an area of broad amorphous responses (Area B) and an area of linear responses indicative of ploughing (Area C).
An assessment of the dredged riverine deposits from the adjacent River Rye was also undertaken. This involved the mechanical removal and spreading of sections of dredged bank material, which was then subjected to a metal-detection survey (licence ref. 11R87).
Nothing of archaeological significance was uncovered during the testing of both the infrastructure works/flood mitigation works and the wider development area. The possible features in Geophysical Area A represented quarrying, the increased response in Area B was representative of modern dumped metal and other waste, while linear furrows were identified in Area C. These are considered to be of modern origin.
The metal-detection survey of the dredged river silts failed to identify any objects of archaeological significance, while only a small number of modern metal objects were detected.
Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded during the testing programme or the metal-detection survey.
Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow
