2016:206 - GORTLONEY, Meath

Monitoring of ground preparation works was carried out on a proposed afforestation site at Gortloney, Co. Meath on 8 December 2016. The technical approval issued by the Forest Service required a 30m exclusion zone around ME015-065, a ringfort located in the field immediately south-east of the application site, and monitoring of all groundworks within the field adjacent to the monument. The exclusion zone within the site was fenced off in advance of works. A tracked excavator opened a series of drains (D 0.25m) at 8m intervals and used the soil from these drains to create mounds for planting. The stratigraphy generally comprised of dark grey/brown clayey silt topsoil (T 0.1m) over grey/brown silty/clayey sand and gravel. No archaeological material was found.