2011:488 - LESHAMSTOWN, Meath

An assessment was undertaken at Leshamstown to assess the archaeological significance of the route of the proposed Pace–Navan rail line at a point where it deviates from the old railway corridor within a marginal area on the edge of the River Skane. The field is a wetland environment with significant areas of flag iris and other marshland vegetation. The field slopes sharply downwards from its eastern boundary to meet the River Skane, a relatively narrow canalised watercourse which forms the boundary on the western edge of the field.
The archaeological work took place on 8–9 June 2011. The proposed development area measures 130m by 300m. Test trenches were dug over an area of 2,550m², comprising 11% of the overall area. This was carried out using two centreline trenches and staggered offset trenches excavated using a track machine with a 2m-wide ditching bucket. The first centreline trench contained a single stone-filled drain and otherwise revealed no features of archaeological significance. The second centreline trench revealed alternating deposits of silt overlying a horizon of scorching and charcoal-rich deposits covering an area of 30m by 20m at an average depth of 0.6m below the current ground surface. This was not associated with any artefacts or animal bone and overlay a deposit of organic soil containing partially decayed brushwood. This in turn overlay a deposit of grey marl. The natural boulder clay comprised grey stony silty clay and was cut in a number of places by possible post-holes and other cavities, which may be root cavities. Samples were taken to radiocarbon-date the burnt horizon and further assessment was recommended.

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