2015:556 - Porch Field, Trim, Meath

Project 1: Monitoring took place of signage locations over an area of approximately 50ha, but the posts were in the vicinity of numerous RMP sites, and of National Monuments. Post-holes for signage were generally 0.3m x 0.3m x 0.3-0.4m deep.
In summary:
• Post 3, next to the ‘Sheep Gate’, showed loose recent dumps: possibly side-cast topsoil from previous footpath or other works.
• Post 4 next to the ‘Yellow Tower,’ showed the upper surface of a layer (0.2m down) containing medieval and post-medieval material from the demolished St Mary's Abbey and other later buildings.
• Map Board 4, Post 14 and Post 15 appear to show the location of a/the demolished Newtown Trim western precinct/boundary wall, oriented north-south for approx. 60m (and therefore an implied external ditch – occasionally visible in the present landscape). The absence of any potential precinct wall remains in Post 16, 180m further north, may imply the wall slanted off to the north-east, perhaps parallel to the Newtown Trim graveyard wall.
• Post 13 was inside the Newtown Trim graveyard but within the construction cut for a large gate pier. No human remains.
• Map board 3 and Post 12 showed (through staining and gravel-grit, possibly pre-medieval natural deposits) that the modern (canalised) stream through Newtown has been running in this general location for a considerable period.
• Post 20 showed dumped, dredged material from the Boyne Drainage scheme. This material has been mounded alongside the River Boyne for 0.8-1.5km (up to 2.7ha) and could contain archaeological objects from the River Boyne.
• Posts 7, 8, 9, 16, 17 and 18 all showed agricultural soils (c.0.2m topsoil over subsoil) of the Porch Field. Posts 11 and 19 showed a positive lynchet in a plough headland (topsoil more than 0.4m deep). Modern finds.
• Alert Posts 1, 2 and Posts 5, 6 were all in land previously disturbed by the R154 Ring Road.

Project 2: Trim Trails footpath
The 2015 footpath was constructed to be 1.8m wide with wooden plank kerbing; all spoil was retained on site for landscaping. Grass sod was removed only to a maximum depth of 0.1m – usually less. In total, the distance of footpath excavated and surveyed was 1150m. Topsoil adjacent to the R154 Ring Road had been previously disturbed.

A total of 360 metal finds showed an overwhelming association with 19th-20th-century horse-based ploughing. Apart from a coin (Penny, George IV, 1822), a button, a quality (but pinless) buckle, a lead musket ball (18mm diameter) and modern fencing items, the entire assemblage was plough- or at least agricultural- based. The items included horseshoe nails, horse hoof and frog cleaning items (including keys, spoons, a chisel and other various short pieces of metal) as well as items from carts (e.g. large-headed nails and rivets) and harnesses (strap buckles). These metal finds were associated with small pottery, clay tobacco pipe and brick fragments typical of manured fields.

C/o Meath County Council