2014:256 - Knowth House, Knowth, Meath

Excavation took place of archaeological features identified during test trenching carried out by Donald Murphy & Jon Stirland of Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit (ACSU) in advance of the construction of a footpath leading from the current visitors' car park to the new visitor facilities at Knowth House Farmyard Complex, Co. Meath. The proposed development is located within the zone of archaeological potential associated with Knowth Passage tomb and Archaeological Complex (ME019-030). Test trenching and subsequent excavation were carried out under ministerial consent (C248; Reg. No E4412; Detection No R294) between 1 and 11 April 2014. The test trench mirrored the route of the proposed footpath at Knowth House Farmyard.
During the assessment two ditches were identified crossing the route of the proposed footpath. The features were investigated by the hand excavation of two sections, one through each of the ditches, after which it was apparent that the features had archaeological potential. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht were consulted, and the author was instructed by the Department to proceed with the excavation of both ditches.
The two ditches ran approximately parallel to each other and were divided by a narrow strip of natural boulder clay approximately 1.6m wide. This spit of natural boulder clay appeared to narrow toward the western limits of both ditches within the extent of the test trench. This may suggest that the two ditches may curve or merge beyond the limit of the western side of the trench.
The general appearance of the two ditches and their similar fills suggested that they may be broadly contemporary, although no stratigraphic relationship between the two could be confirmed and their cuts / profiles were very different.
Unfortunately no dating evidence was recovered from either feature. However, stylistically they had the general appearance of ditches of a Bronze Age date. Ditches with similar profiles were identified during excavations at the Hill of the Rath, associated with the construction of the M1 Motorway. Their profiles also closely resembled ditches recorded during the excavation of archaeological features within the village of Tullyallen associated with the development of a housing estate which were dated to the Bronze Age. This analysis can only be regarded as very tentative, however, as ditches of all types can really date from any period from the prehistoric right up to modern times.
Because of the limited extent of this excavation it was not possible to fully assess the full nature, extent and alignment of these ditches. However together with other ditches identified by IAC Ltd during an earlier assessment, these ditches may represent features associated with the wider landscape of the passage tomb at Knowth during the site’s long evolution.

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