County: Meath Site name: Moyvalley
Sites and Monuments Record No.: In Zone of Notification for KD001-004 Moated site Licence number: 21E0233
Author: Liam Coen c/o Archer Heritage
Site type: Testing, no archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 671900m, N 743564m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.437260, -6.917884
Test-excavations were undertaken on 27 April 2021 in dry sunny conditions. Four trenches (300 linear metres) were excavated using a 20-tonne mechanical excavator equipped with a 2.4m grading bucket under constant archaeological supervision. Trenches were positioned at locations previously agreed with the NMS and targeted the full footprint of the proposed development. Trenches 3 and 4 crossed a relatively sharp east-facing natural scarp. The eastern end of Trench 3 crossed a low linear depression which extended from the south-east corner of the adjacent moated site. Topsoil across the site was shallow and recorded at a depth of 0.2-0.25m. It overlay a mid-orangish brown gravelly clay subsoil. No new sites or features were recorded in testing. The east-facing scarp marks a natural variation in subsoil levels. The low linear depression would also appear to be natural in origin and may be formed from the drainage of surface water from the location of the moated site.
Unit 8 Beat Centre, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin
