2012:466 - Moyfin, Meath

An excavation and metal detection survey were carried out in November 2012 on behalf of the National Monuments Section, Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht; following the discovery of a previously unrecorded burial ground at Moyfin, Co. Meath, where inhumed human remains were exposed during quarrying operations. A total area of 2600m2 was subject to archaeological investigations, comprising 850m2 of hand-cleared areas and 1750m2 of machine-cleaned areas. The burials extended over an area of 25m north-south by 15m. The remains of eight human burials were recorded. They were poorly to moderately preserved, with no fully complete individuals and all buried in simple dug graves, orientated generally west-east (with the head to the west), in a supine, extended position. No new burials were identified at the site, although it was not clear whether additional burials had been fully removed prior to identification. Additional features recorded at the site were a ditch and 3 non-archaeological features. It is unlikely that further archaeological remains exist at the site.

Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin