2024:499 - Bennetstown, Dunboyne, Meath

Thirteen archaeological test trenches, measuring 370 linear metres, were excavated within two adjacent greenfield parcels comprising Phase 2 and 3 of a proposed development site. A geophysical survey (Detection device licence 24R0165) carried out within the development lands in March 2024 identified a large number of potential archaeological features and the testing programme aimed to evaluate five of these.

The testing programme confirmed the findings of the geophysical survey and identified a total of 27 archaeological features within the trenches. The features comprised a large circular enclosure (c. 60m diameter), one smaller enclosure, two ring-ditches, several linear features, pits and possible post-holes. One artefact, a fragment of a Bronze Age copper cake or ingot, was retrieved from the ditch of the smaller of the two enclosures. Fragments of unburnt animal bone and charcoal and flecks of undiagnostic burnt bone were also noted within several of the archaeological deposits.