County: Meath Site name: Moathill, Navan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 21E0294, 21R0109
Author: Derek Gallagher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit
Site type: Ditches and linear features
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 685949m, N 767805m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.652947, -6.699839
Test trenching and metal detection were carried out at the proposed N51 Park and Ride, Moathill, Navan, Co. Meath. The testing was carried out at the request of the client to assess the archaeological potential of the site following a geophysical survey carried out by Earthsound Geophysics in July 2019 (19R0127) and an Archaeological Impact Assessment carried out by Archer Heritage Planning Ltd in 2020. Test trenching was carried out between 31 May and 3 June 2021. A metal detection survey was also carried out of the topsoil under license 21R0109.
A total of 26 test trenches were excavated across the relevant areas with each trench measuring 1.8m in width. In total, 444m of linear trenches were excavated, targeting anomalies identified during the Earthsound geophysical survey (19E0127). In general, the trenches revealed mid-brown sandy clay topsoil, C1, measuring c. 0.32–0.53m in depth, overlying an orange-coloured subsoil and gravels, C2.
Testing succeeded in identifying the ditch/ditches identified in the geophysical survey at anomaly 12. These were identified as C3 & C4 and were exposed within trenches 1a, 19-20. A possible pit (C5) was also identified at the southern end of trench 22. The linear feature (C13), identified within trench 1a, is most likely a post-medieval furrow shown on the geophysical survey in yellow as it follows the same north-east/south-west orientation.
The ditch C6, identified in trenches 1b, 4, 16 & 24, most likely is the same as the north-west/south-east ditch exposed in the excavations on the N51 Inner Relief Road south-east of the large boundary ditch. The stone deposits (C9 & C10) appear to be isolated at the junction of Trenches 1b & 16 and did not appear to extend further north, south, east or west, and may represent land clearance or a bank north of the liner ditch C11, which may be an internal field boundary. The linear features C8 & C12 may be field drains or similar feeding into the ditch C11. A post-medieval field drain (C7) was identified within trenches 1b, 3 & 14.
Trenches 25 & 26 were excavated through the field boundary bank at the southern boundary in order to access its archaeological potential, however it was determined that the bank was constructed from redeposited natural clay (C14) and was not archaeological in nature.
One find was recovered during the metal detection from the ditch C6 in Trench 21 (21E0294:6:1). It consisted of a partially decayed bent iron piece measuring 25mm in width by c.90mm in length and may possibly represent a strap end or clasp.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co Louth
