2020:154 - Readsland, Roestown and Knocks, Meath

A programme of archaeological test-trenching was carried out on lands in Readsland, Roestown and Knocks, to the west of Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. A geophysical survey was carried out on the lands in 2009 (Harrison; 09R0089). An excavation was carried out on the adjacent lands in 2018-19 (Licence No. 15E0125; Excavations Refs. 2018:032 & 2019:474), which revealed a large early medieval cemetery-settlement and associated metalworking and cereal production to the north. Prehistoric activity and a medieval field system were revealed in the southern end of the site.

Thirty-five trenches were opened across five fields. Archaeology was identified within two of the fields. Most of the material uncovered was located in the largest field to the south (Field 2) and included a cluster of pits and curvilinear features to the west. One of these was a shallow arcing slot, possibly the remains of a ring-ditch or a structure, with an internal diameter of 6.75m. These are likely to relate to the cremation pit and pyre excavated as part of the 2018 works, as well as the pit cluster and fulacht fiadh to the north-west of the field.

A second zone of archaeology was identified to the south-east with two separate burnt spreads uncovered, likely to be the remains of fulachtaí fiadh. They measured c. 6m diameter and c. 10m diameter, with the spread being up to 0.14m in depth where tested. No troughs were identified during the testing, however they may survive beneath the spread. These prehistoric features were located on the edges of the former wetlands in the floodplain of the River Skane, which is located to the south and west. Some of these pools were encountered in the 2018 works and in the testing programme and are likely to be contemporary with the surrounding archaeology.

A number of linear ditches forming a medieval field system were identified within Field 2 during the 2018 works. Additional ditches and drainage features identified in the 2018 excavation and the 2020 testing indicate attempts to improve the field persisted in the post-medieval period. In the lower-lying fields further to the south and west (Fields 4, 5 and 6) the drainage features all appeared to be of post-medieval and modern date, indicating drainage of these fields did not take place until more recent times. The lands on either side of the stream forming the upper section of the River Skane, which runs through the site, were particularly boggy. No archaeology was uncovered within Field 4, 5 or 6. An anomaly identified in Field 6 to the south through geophysical survey in 2009 and interpreted as a possible ploughed-out fulacht fiadh was tested and shown to be non-archaeological.

Within the northern field (Field 1) a small number of isolated pits were identified along with a number of additional features of archaeological potential. The field has been heavily ploughed in the past, which would have impacted any archaeology that may have been present. There was no indication that features relating to the early medieval settlement excavated in 2018-19 to the east continue into the field. The features identified within the field were sporadic and were not clearly archaeological in nature.

Additional works were recommended.

Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2