2023:897 - Grangend Common & Dunshaughlin, Meath

Archaeological monitoring of topsoil removal for Phase 1 of a residential development was carried out at Grangend Common and Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath, in July 2023. The development site is located at the north-east edge of the town, immediately north of the zone of archaeological potential for Recorded Monument ME044-033, the medieval settlement at Dunshaughlin including the site of an early church founded by St Seachnall in the 5^th century. The lands comprises approximately 8 hectares, and is divided by a small stream that extends north-south through the centre of the site. The general site topography consists of high ground in the west falling away to low-lying ground on the margins of the former Little Lagore Lough in the east. Previous archaeological testing at the site resulted in the discovery of a burnt spread on the east bank of the stream (2020:213). The burnt spread is scheduled for excavation prior to the Phase 2 development.

The Phase 1 development consists of all lands on the west side of the stream. The south and west parts of these lands were topsoil-stripped in July 2023. Several north-south linear features and a couple of fire spots were uncovered during monitoring. Investigations revealed the linear features to be shallow furrows while the fire spots were little more than shallow pockets of burnt clay on the surface of the subsoil, probably a result of the burning of vegetation. A large mound of topsoil that had been removed from the field in the west extent of the site prior to archaeological monitoring, was subject to metal detection survey in September 2023. The mound was reduced in 150mm spits and metal detection carried out across the top of the mound after each reduction. A total of 128 metal artifacts ranging in date from the medieval through to the post-medieval period were recovered during the course of the four-day survey. The discovery of significant numbers of artefacts on lands in the vicinity of a medieval settlement is not unusual and probably derives from the use of domestic waste, most likely swept up from the streets of the town, to manure the surrounding fields.