2018:585 - Alexander Reid and Bailis, Navan, Meath

Monitoring was carried out on the central and northern portion of a development site in Alexander Reid and Bailis townlands, Navan Co. Meath in a number of short phases. The excavation of Area D within the development has already taken place (Excavations Ref. 2017:193), as has the monitoring of the southern portion of the site (Excavations Ref. 2016:638).

The continuation of a number of ditches identified during the Area D excavation was noted during the monitoring programme. These did not extend far from the settlement and a wider associated field system was not uncovered. The settlement is largely confined to the site excavated in Area D, with only three ditches extending to the north for a number of metres and the continuation of a sunken pathway to the west for a similar distance before it rose to the present ground level and petered out.

A cluster of five truncated pits was identified on a ridge of higher ground to the north of Area D. These had charcoal-rich fills and scorched bases and are likely to be hearths. Another fire-pit was identified beside the eastern boundary. The whole site had been heavily landscaped in 1838 during the laying out of the estate for Sion House to the south, with evidence for the filling-in of hollows and dips in the landscape at this time, as well as the scarping of higher ground. This scarping truncated the early medieval settlement and later 17th-century burial ground in Area D as well as the ridge to the north with the truncated fire-pits.

A number of agricultural ditches and drainage features were also encountered during the monitoring programme. The townland boundary between Alexander Reid and Bailis was also crossed. This had been backfilled in the 20th century and no material predating this period was encountered within it.

The excavation of Area A within the development is to take place in 2019.

Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2