2022:522 - Clonymeath, Meath

Archaeological test trenching and monitoring was carried out within the footprint of a proposed development site located in the townland of Clonymeath, Co. Meath. The testing was carried out by Niall O’Hora between 26–28 September 2022 and the monitoring of GI works were carried out by Niall O’Hora and Colum Hardy on the 20 and 21 October 2022.

Test trenching involved excavating a combination of targeted and random test trenches across the site. The targeted test trenches were laid out to investigate anomalies discovered during the geophysical survey under licence numbers 21R0250 & 21R0159 while the random test trenches were laid out to cover the rest of the site. The test trenching consisted of eighteen test trenches totalling 734.6 linear metres. Each trench measured 1.8m in width and the test trenches were excavated down to the natural subsoil.

While several of the anomalies identified in the geophysical survey turned out to be of geological origin, two areas of archaeological interest (AA1 and AA2) were identified which included ten pits and one possible post-hole.

These areas were recorded in the south-eastern area of the site with AA1 located within Trench 9 and AA2 located within Trenches 12 and 13. These features underwent a preliminary investigation to establish their nature and extent prior to being covered and subsequently backfilled.

AA1
The three pits recorded in Trench 9 in AA1 (C.4, C.6 and C.8) were clustered together and correlate to the geophysical anomaly highlighted in the survey. The pits ranged in size from 0.6m by 0.5m by 0.14m to 1m by 0.75m by 0.08m to 1.3m by 0.9m by 0.08m. Two of the pits were intercutting (C.6 and C.8) and all three contained fragments of metal slag, indicating they were likely associated. Although the pits appear isolated within this area they may be associated with the bi-vallate enclosure (AY14) identified in the geophysical survey, situated c.125m to the north-north-east of the footprint of the development, and may be evidence of industrial activity.

AA2
In AA2 a total of seven pits were identified (two in Trench 12 and five in Trench 13) as well as a single possible post-hole. The dimensions of six of the pits (C.12, C.14, C.16, C.18, C.20 and C.22) ranged in size from 0.55m by 0.45m by 0.15m to 1.85m by 0.55m by 0.05m to 2.2m by 0.56m by 0.26m while the shape in plan ranged from sub-rectangular to sub-oval to irregular. The fills in these pits were very similar, ranging in colour from greyish black to greyish brown to reddish black and comprising varying degrees of charcoal, with one pit (C.14) containing burnt clay. Pit C.14 also contained fragments of burnt bone which may present evidence for cooking activity.

The largest of the pits was C.10 which measured 5.5m by 1.4m by 0.28m in size. The size and shape in plan of the pit is not too dissimilar to certain types of cereal-drying kilns (e.g. key-hole shaped kilns and figure-of-eight shaped kilns). The fill excavated in a slot in the north-western half of the feature however was mainly sterile and no in-situ burning was evident at the base (a common aspect of corn-drying kilns). A thin black band containing occasional charcoal and burnt roots, however, was present along the western and southern edges of the pit and may be evidence of burning activity.

Pit C.12 was located 0.7m to the west of pit C.10 and they may be associated. Seven sherds of pottery were retrieved from this pit and it is anticipated that ongoing specialist analysis of the pottery will provide a date.

Given that the pits in AA2 were in close proximity, were mostly similar in size and contained similar fills, this would suggest that they were associated. It is possible that these features also represent peripheral activity to the enclosure mentioned above.

The results of archaeological testing have revealed two areas of archaeological interest comprising a total of ten pits and one possible post-hole. Further investigation and environmental analysis of these features will provide more evidence on the dating and nature of these features.

Separate to this, monitoring of GI works was also undertaken within the site footprint and along the route of a proposed access road into the site. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded during the archaeological monitoring works.

Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS), Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare