County: Meath Site name: Dunshaughlin
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 18E0495
Author: Liza Kavanagh, IAC Ltd
Site type: Ring-barrow, burnt mound deposits, pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 697652m, N 751711m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.506312, -6.527899
A programme of testing was undertaken within a proposed Strategic Housing Development application site (The Willows) located at Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. The results of this investigation, which followed on from a geophysical survey undertaken by John Nicholls in 2018 (18R0012), informed the impact assessment contained within an EIAR chapter.
A total of 53 trenches were excavated within the area of proposed development during September 2018. The trenches targeted geophysical anomalies and open green space. A total of six areas containing features of archaeological potential (Archaeological Areas 1–6 [AA1-6]) were identified by this investigation. The most significant of these sites is a probable ring-barrow designated as AA3 which comprises a set of concentric circular ditches measuring c. 30m north–south. The fact that no above-ground element of a mound survives at AA3, the shallow nature of the surviving ditches, and apparent lack of an eastern return to the enclosure, all suggest that the barrow has been heavily truncated by agricultural activity over the years. In addition, two spreads of burnt mound material were noted at AA1 and AA2, the former associated with two pits, and three single pits in AA4–6. The remains are heavily truncated and are considered on current evidence to be of local significance. Groundworks associated with the proposed development will have a direct negative impact on the in-situ archaeological remains in AA1–6.
The testing has indicated that the results of the geophysical survey are accurate, i.e. areas indicated as having no archaeology are confirmed as such, and we now have a good understanding of the site. There may, however, be an adverse impact on previously unrecorded small-scale archaeological features or deposits that have the potential to survive beneath the current ground level outside of the tested areas. This will be caused by ground disturbances associated with the proposed development.
It is acknowledged that preservation in-situ of archaeological remains is the preferable option wherever possible, however this is not possible in this instance. Preservation by record of the features in AA1-6 has been agreed as an appropriate form of archaeological mitigation. A buffer of 10m surrounding the remains has been set out and these areas should be considered to be the minimum excavation areas.
IAC Ltd, Unit G1, Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
