County: Meath Site name: Area A and B Dunboyne
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 17E0399
Author: Liza Kavanagh
Site type: Enclosure and associated features
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 701945m, N 742561m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.423299, -6.466174
Testing was carried out at the site of a proposed development under the reactivation of licence 17E0399 in October 2018, following on from a programme of geophysical survey in May 2018 (18R00016).
Five trenches were proposed within Area A, but only one was excavated due to constraints on works. This trench showed the area to have been disturbed significantly during previous development works likely associated with the adjoining railway.
A total of 23 trenches were excavated from Area B. Four areas of possible archaeological significance were identified. Area 1 consisted of a possible ring ditch comprising two curvilinear features forming an arc 3.2m in diameter on the north side of the site. Area 2 consisted of two shallow truncated linear features and a possible pit. It was separated from Area 3 by the current field boundary in the centre of the tested area. Area 3 consisted of a possible partial circular enclosure 18m in diameter and two pits and a hearth. Area 4 in the south-east of the tested area consisted of a possible kiln feature.
This programme of test-trenching took place as part of due diligence works at the pre-planning stage. As such, no details are currently available regarding the development of the site, although it will contain a link road and residential development. The features recorded at AA 1-4 are considered, on current evidence, to be of local significance only and vulnerable to any groundworks associated with development in the area.
c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
