County: Meath Site name: Newtownmoyaghy, Balfeaghan and Dolanstown
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 18E0296
Author: Liam Coen c/o Archer Heritage Planning
Site type: Monitoring
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 689138m, N 739793m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.400749, -6.659583
Monitoring of topsoil stripping for a flood alleviation scheme approximately 0.5km north of Kilcock took place in the townlands of Newtownmoyaghy, Balfeaghan and Dolanstown running along the northern bank of the Rye River from Balfeaghan Bridge to Meath Bridge. The site consists of a number of low-lying pasture fields with the Rye Water River to the south.
Topsoil stripping was monitored from 4–29 June 2018. Topsoil varied in depth from 0.25-0.4m and overlay an orange-brown clay subsoil; sherds of 19th-century pottery were uncovered along with a number of plough furrows.
One archaeological feature was observed during the topsoil strip monitoring comprising the remains of a disturbed fulacht fia on the edge of the mill race in the centre of the scheme. This feature was excavated from 16-20 July under licence 18E0377.
Metal detection of a sample of material from the Rye River was carried out under licence 18R0126 with a small number of positive responses of modern material (drink cans) noted.
Archer Heritage Planning, 8 Beat Centre, Stephenstown, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin.
