2024:664 - Red Shed, Dowth Hall Estate, Dowth, Meath
County: Meath
Site name: Red Shed, Dowth Hall Estate, Dowth
Sites and Monuments Record No.: ME020-012----; ME020-013----; ME020-080----; ME020-098----; ME020-098001-
Licence number: E005769
Author: Donald Murphy
Author/Organisation Address: Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, County Louth
Site type: Proximity to Passage Grave
Period/Dating: Modern (AD 1750-AD 2000)
ITM: E 702883m, N 773998m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.705524, -6.441719
Test excavations with the use of a metal detector were carried out at Red Shed, Dowth Hall Estate, Co. Meath. This work was undertaken under Section 14 Consent in order to determine the presence, if any, of archaeological levels, which will inform the reflooring design for this modern, corrugated agricultural shed.
The site is located within the new Brú na Bóinne National Park, which is within the core of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also within the curtilage of Dowth Hall (National Monument in State Care and Protected Structure LA RPS ID 90706). At least three passage tombs (ME020-012—- (National Monument No. 410), ME020-013—- and ME020-098—-) are located nearby, as is a souterrain (ME020-098001-) and a displaced stone with megalithic art (ME020-080—-). The site is also just west of Dowth Hall stables (NIAH Reg. No. 14402010) and the associated water pump (NIAH Reg. No. 14402011; LA RPS ID 90705).
Test trenches (Trenches 1 – 4) were excavated down to natural subsoil exposed at a depth of between 0.35-0.45m. No features were exposed. The area has been levelled in the past, and the material excavated consisted of modern levelling layers, including very recent (C3, C4) as well as a rough stone layer (C2).
The work is now complete. No further archaeological mitigation measures are required.