Archaeological testing in the townlands of Ballaghaweary & Greenoge, Co. Meath was undertaken over two weeks at the beginning of November 2023 in advance of the construction of a solar farm situated c.3.8km south-east of Ashbourne, Co. Meath and which comprises of c.34ha of agricultural land sub-divided into five irregular-shaped fields (Fields 1-5). There are two recorded enclosures within the limits of the site, ME045-016 and ME045-044.
A series of fifty-six linear test trenches, extending for c.1430m were opened across the footprint of the proposed groundworks and geophysical anomalies within the five fields of the PSF (Nicholls 2021). Three potential archaeological sites were discovered and recorded during the testing program:
- A pair of conjoined small circular enclosures were identified during the geophysical survey at the northern limits of Field 3. The ring-ditch is sub-circular in plan and measures c.6m in diameter. The second penannular ditch is slightly larger (c.7.8m x c.7.2m) and is situated abutting the south-west limits of the first one. Small investigative boxes were excavated within the two ring-ditches. Investigation of the southern penannular ring-ditch revealed a 0.80m wide ditch comprising of mid-yellow clayey-sand material with very occasional charcoal inclusions. Excavation of the investigative test box revealed a cut with slightly convex sides tapering to rounded and exhibiting an uneven base with maximum depth of 0.22m. A soil sample was taken from the fill of the ditch for further analysis. The second ring- ditch was manifest in T23 in two areas comprising of a narrow 0.65m section and a wider 1m section revealed at the exact location of the recorded circular geophysical anomaly. A small investigative test box was excavated at the northern section of the ring-ditch where a charcoal-rich deposit was the most evident. The recorded ditch had steep sides and a slightly concave base with a maximum depth 0.3m. The test box revealed two fills with the main charcoal-rich fill comprising of black soft silty sandy clay with frequent cremains and some heat-shattered stone inclusions. The second basal fill consisted of more compacted mid-orange silty sandy clay with occasional charcoal and charred bone inclusions. 100% of the fill was recovered from the test box for further analysis. Given, the copious amount of charred bone and charcoal recorded in the smaller ring-ditch it is currently interpreted as a possible ring-barrow.
- A short section of a north-east/south-west orientated ditch was exposed during excavation of trench T38 on the location of a geophysical anomaly in the south-east limits of Field 4. A small section was excavated in the ditch at the southern baulk. The ditch was 0.9m in width and 0.5m deep and contained two slightly different fills both of which contained charcoal, animal bone and burnt bone. A soil sample was taken for further specialist analysis and possible dating. The current constrained investigations were too limited to establish the function of the ditch, but it is most probably associated with the larger settlement and other features recorded during the geophysical survey just to the north (Nicholls 2021).
- Excavation of trench T56 at the southern limits of Field 5 revealed evidence of an enclosure recorded during the geophysical survey as a sub-circular, shallow in profile, ditch 30m in diameter. Two sections of the enclosure ditch were recorded in test trench T56. A small section was excavated at the north-west part of the enclosure to establish its stratigraphy. The ditch was V-shaped in profile and featured slightly convex sides tapering to pointed bases with maximum recorded width of 1.1m and depth of 0.7m. It contained three fills, the uppermost one was sterile, comprising of compacted dark orange silty sandy clay material that overlay a mid-grey fill. The basal fill was dark grey with moderate stone inclusions and occasional charcoal flecks. A soil sample was taken from the basal fill for further analysis and possible dating.
Nothing of archaeological interest was recorded in any other of the test trenches and no artefacts were recovered during testing. Post-excavation analysis is ongoing.
References:
Nicholls, J. (2021) Proposed Solar Farm Development in Ballaghaweary & Greenoge Townlands, County Meath. Unpublished report Target Archaeological Geophysics.
195 Shanakill, Tralee, Co. Kerry
