2014:253 - Johnstown & Rath Hill, Dunshaughlin, Meath

An assessment including geophysical survey and subsequent test trenching was carried out in response to a further information request from Meath County Council on foot of a planning application for the proposed construction of 93 houses at Johnstown & Rath Hill Townlands, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath. The site comprised of two green fields located to the south of Dunshaughlin village, a historic town (ME044-034).
A geophysical survey was conducted within both fields of the proposed development on 28 September 2014. The survey identified no clear anomalies of a possible archaeological nature. Areas of magnetic disturbance identified within Field 2 were interpreted as modern. A detailed survey was carried out in Field 1 revealing evidence of ploughing and probable drainage features. The geophysical survey also identified a bank-type feature which can clearly be seen on the ground and appears to have formed the bank of an old watercourse. The survey suggests that the evidence of ploughing may have represented medieval ridge and furrow cultivation, however the test trenching recorded these as modern.
Test trenching of the site was carried out on 7 Oct 2014. A total of 12 test trenches were excavated. Two linear features were identified, one within Trench 10 and the other within Trench 11 in Field 1. The features within Trench 11 were found to be evidence of ploughing, being 80mm in depth and approximately 0.4m wide and represents relatively modern ploughing of the site. This can be clearly seen running across the site on the results of the geophysical survey.  The curving bank-type feature was identified within Trenches 1, 2, 3 & 6. It appears to have formed the bank of a large waterourse, the far bank of which can be seen within the adjoining fields to the south. The bank is not shown on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd editions of the OS maps and can only represent a much earlier landscape feature that may have been drained as a result of the development of the 18th-19th-century drainage system associated with the current field patterns.

Within Trench 4, a deposit of 18th-19th-century demolition rubble was recorded. This may be associated with a building that once stood at this location and is depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps as rectangular, with associated out-buildings.

No archaeological features or deposits were identified during the test trenching.

Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth