County: Meath Site name: Dunville Apartments, Alexander Reid, Navan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: n/a Licence number: 22E0952
Author: Steven McGlade
Site type: Kilns, cereal processing
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 689365m, N 766895m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.644199, -6.648441
A programme of monitoring and subsequent excavation was carried out on a site in Alexander Reid townland, Navan, Co. Meath in January 2023. A number of features had been found during the testing programme on the site in December 2022, which was carried out under the same licence (Excavations Ref. 2022:440).
The monitoring revealed a cluster of features relating to at least two phases of cereal processing, which was subsequently excavated. The features were located on a low rise overlooking a late prehistoric and early medieval settlement site around 100m to the northwest, which was excavated in 2016 (16E0449; Excavations Ref. 2017:193). Two adjacent and parallel ditches, presumably part of the early medieval field system, were also uncovered, with one of the kilns post-dating the ditches and one predating them. An additional kiln was excavated east of the ditch.
A small sub-oval structure defined by thirteen stake-holes was excavated adjacent to the kilns. The structure measured 2.4m by 2m internally and was oriented east-west.
Two parallel curving slot trenches were also uncovered. These appear to represent fence-lines, possibly surrounding a fire-pit that was located within the area partially sheltered by the slot trenches, or defining an approach to the kiln area.
A large shallow pit with associated drains was uncovered nearby. The base of the pit was partly metalled, with the remains of a paved surface surviving in the other part of the pit. This feature was likely associated with the nearby cereal processing, perhaps being a threshing pit. Similar pits were identified at the settlement site in 2016-17.
Some additional pits were excavated across the site. A number of later agricultural ditches were also recorded.
The features uncovered appear to be an extension of the late prehistoric and early medieval settlement excavated in 2016-17 to the northwest. They appear to represent a cereal processing area, with the small structure possibly serving as a shelter or store.
Archaeology Plan, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2
