2017:606 - Derrockstown, Meath

Stage (i) – k test excavations were undertaken at Derrockstown, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath on behalf of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to provide further information as part of the Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed Motorway Service Area. Testing of the project was undertaken in February 2017 following advance archaeological assessment at the site comprising geophysical survey and desktop assessment/walkover survey. Stage (i) k Test Excavations (i.e. machine-assisted test excavations undertaken at a known or suspected archaeological monument) were undertaken in greenfield areas amounting to 5.6ha within the current proposed landtake for the proposed development. Analysis of historical mapping at the site indicates the presence of a lake in the general area. A total of 18 machine-assisted test-trenches (805 linear metres) were excavated within the site (c. 2.58% of the proposed land made available). No archaeological material was recorded in this phase of assessment. Areas of archaeological potential including a circular ditched enclosure (Geophysical Anomaly N), a possible mound and various ditches and pits, as interpreted from advance archaeological assessments (geophysical survey and desktop/walkover survey), were found on test excavation to be non-archaeological in origin.
Deposits of marl were found throughout the southern portion of the site in the course of testing. Further north, these were interspersed with higher ridges of dark stony boulder clay. The marl and ridges of boulder clay as detected in test excavation corresponded to the area where potential archaeological features were detected in geophysical survey. Despite the suggestion that a lake was formerly situated here, none of the excavated test trenches contained evidence for the presence of waterlogged wood or other palaeoenvironmental remains.

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