2011:614 - NEWDOWN 1, 2 AND 3, Westmeath

Testing was undertaken from 8 to 17 February 2011 across thirteen test areas on the N4 The Downs Grade Separation Scheme on behalf of Westmeath County Council and the National Roads Authority.
Over the course of the works a series of three archaeological sites were discovered, Newdown 1, 2 and 3. The site at Newdown 1 comprised a burnt mound. An area around it was stripped of topsoil to determine the full extent of the site as part of the Stage (ii) works. The burnt mound deposit comprised a slight mound formed by heat-shattered stone and charcoal-rich clay. The overall dimensions of the mound were 16.5m north–south by 16m. The site was confined within an area projected to be approximately 20m x 22m.
The site at Newdown 2 comprised a single isolated shallow spread/pit, which was positioned on slightly raised ground (101.1m OD). The feature was located near (to the north-east of) previously identified Iron Age cremation pits discovered by Emer Dennehy (Eachtra) during the construction of the N4 Dual Carriageway (Excavations 2000, no. 1033, 00E0092). Pit/spread C3 was half-sectioned and found to comprise a thin deposit (0.03m deep) of charcoal-rich clay and some burnt clay. No other features were found in the adjacent trenches in this area and it was concluded that this was an isolated feature of little archaeological significance.
The site at Newdown 3 was identified as two groups of pits and post-holes (Newdown 3a and 3b) positioned immediately west of WM027-001 at the edge of the proposed ‘Area of preservation in situ’ for this monument. These two areas are c. 35m apart and are interpreted as being directly associated/contemporary with each other.
Newdown 3a comprised two pits (C6 and C8), one pit/post-hole (C7) and two linear features (C4 and C5). The two possible pit features measured 1m east–west by 0.6m and c. 1m in diameter respectively, with charcoal-flecked fills. The pit/post-hole feature was half-sectioned and found to be 0.4m in diameter and c. 0.3m deep, with a charcoal-rich fill. Linear features (gullies or shallow ditches), located to the north of the pit and post-hole features, were both aligned east–west. The first linear feature (C4) was 2m long, 1m wide and c. 0.5m deep and had a light grey/brown silty clay fill. The second linear feature (C5) was positioned to the south of C4. This was not investigated further but, like C4, the western terminus was recorded within the trench and it evidently extended beyond the trench limits to the east.
Newdown 3b comprised three pits/post-holes (C9, C10, C11) and a possible spread (C12). Pits/post-holes C9, C10 and C11 were each c. 0.3m in diameter and charcoal-rich. Spread C12 was not clearly defined but extended across an area c. 1m in diameter. It is possible that Newdown 3 represents small-scale habitation deposits/features associated with the adjacent ringfort (WM027-001). It is clear that this archaeology does not extend to the west but is likely to extend into the ‘Area of Preservation in situ’ to the east.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120b Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow