County: Meath Site name: Castletown Tara, Navan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 19E0780
Author: Ian Russell
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 690566m, N 760999m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.591024, -6.631997
A programme of archaeological testing was carried out at Castletown Tara, Navan, Co. Meath. The nearest Recorded Monument to the site (ME031-013 -Enclosure) is located c. 300m to the west and will not be directly affected by the proposed development and the nearest protected structure (Tara Heritage Centre –RPS MH031-118; NIAH Reg. No. 14403101) is located c. 1.8km to the south-east.
The Hill of Tara, a National Monument (Nos 676 & 148), is located 1.5km to the south-east, and will also not be impacted.
Testing was carried out in advance of a proposed development (Planning Ref. No.AA/191094) in part fulfillment of a request for further information issued by Meath County Council. The proposed development will consist of the construction of a detached, single-storey dwelling, new entrance to site, and all associated site works.
The fieldwork (test trenching) took place on 9 January 2020 using a 14-tonne tracked excavator. A total of four test trenches were excavated across the footprint of the proposed development. Each trench measured 1.8m in width and, in total, 83m of linear trenches were excavated. In general, the trenches revealed topsoil and sod at a depth ranging between 0.25–0.35m, overlying natural light to mid-reddish-brown sandy clay. According to the current owners, the site had been cleared about 10 years ago and the soil was left in the form of a bank around the perimeter. No archaeological features, structures or deposits were exposed. No further archaeological work is recommended.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills Rd, Drogheda, Co. Louth
