2020:804 - POSSECKSTOWN, Meath

Archaeological testing was carried out of a greenfield site at Posseckstown, Enfield, Co. Meath, prior to a planning application for a housing development and associated site works.

There is one recorded monument in the centre of the site—a large enclosure (SMR ME048-019—) known as Boyne’s Rath. The area of this monument, which is the subject of a preservation order (PO no. 21/1977), will be unaffected by the development and it was not impacted by the testing.

Following the completion of geophysical survey and a site survey, archaeological testing was carried out on 24 and 25 February 2020. Linear trenches were excavated across the site at areas proposed for development using a 12-tonne mechanical excavator fitted with a 1.5m width bucket. Any suspected archaeological features were cleaned by trowel and they were recorded using notes, photographs and a handheld GPS.

A total of 14 trenches were excavated with a combined total length of 1060m. Six suspected archaeological features were recorded in four of the trenches. Archaeological features identified at the northeast of the site include a pit with charred soil fill and a stone feature bordered by burned edges on either side; stone-filled ditches of possible archaeological interest were recorded in trenches to the west and south of the rath.