2025:383 - Readsland Phase 1B, Meath

A programme of monitoring and excavation took place on a site in Readsland, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. The site is designated Phase 1B of the Dún Ríoga development and lies to the south of a site excavated under Licence No. 15E0125. The monitoring identified four areas of archaeology within the site.

Two pits with charcoal-rich fills were excavated in one of the areas. These were adjacent to a Late Neolithic pit cluster previously excavated directly to the north during the excavation associated with the earlier phase of development on the site (Licence No. 15E0125, Excavations Ref. 2018:032). A further three pit clusters were identified during the 2025 excavations, however no artefacts or significant deposits were retrieved from them to indicate a date. The prehistoric archaeology uncovered in 2025 was located at the edge of former wetlands, which continue to the south of the site. The probable prehistoric pit clusters conform with the location of pit clusters excavated previously on the site, which were also located close to the wetlands.

A burnt mound site (ME044-054—) was excavated previously during Phase 1. It was thought that the burnt spread may continue west or north into the Phase 1B lands, however no evidence for the spread was identified during the monitoring. It is concluded that the full extent of the burnt mound site was excavated during the 2018-9 excavations.

A cluster of seven charcoal-production pits were excavated in the southwest of the site. Samples were taken from these for analysis and radiocarbon dating. The cluster suggests an investment in charcoal production, and it will be interesting to compare the dates of this activity with the large metalworking area excavated previously c. 500m to the north in Phase 1 of the development (15E0125, Excavations Ref. 2019:474).

The continuation of the medieval field system (ME044-052—), identified previously during Phase 1 of the development, was also recorded in all areas. A single sherd of medieval ceramic was retrieved from one of the ditches excavated in 2025, however no later material was encountered.

Finds from the excavation were limited, though a reworked flint arrowhead was retrieved from a post-medieval drainage feature, and three scrapers were retrieved from the base of the topsoil during the monitoring.

Some additional monitoring is to be completed on the site in early 2026.