2025:407 - Oldtully, Oldcastle, Meath

Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) were engaged to carry out archaeological monitoring of construction works for the development of Liss Solar Farm and associated site development and landscaping works in Oldtully and Oldcastle, Co. Meath. The monitoring was carried out as a condition of planning.
Cultural heritage and archaeological assessments for this development were prepared by John Cronin & Associates in 2016. The assessment found no Recorded Monuments located within the footprint of the development but two ringfort-raths (RMPs ME009-015—- and ME009-019—-) were noted within c.500m of the area of development. A geophysical survey was carried out by J. M. Leigh Surveys Ltd in 2016 followed by archaeological testing by David Murphy in 2017.
AMS undertook archaeological monitoring intermittently between 14 June 2024 and 10 January 2025 and on 6 June 2025.
An isolated pit was found in the central portion of the lay-down area (approx. 656928, 780873 ITM, H 112.2m OD). The pit was sub-rectangular in plan with rounded corners, gently sloping side and a flat base. It measured 1.5m (east-west) by 1.4m by 0.15–0.22m in depth. It was filled with soft, dark blackish-grey charcoal-rich sandy clay with frequent burnt sandstone and moderate unburnt stone inclusions. Two modern stone-filled field drains were also present in the lay-down area.
During monitoring of topsoil stripping for the haul road, a pit/potential kiln (656909.50, 781060.67 ITM, 119.35m OD) and field boundary features were identified. The pit was sub-rectangular in plan with rounded corners and measured 2.5m (north-north-west/south-south-east) by 1.4m by min. 0.2m in depth. It was filled with dark brown clayey silt with moderate charcoal and stone inclusions. Heat-affected edges were noted along the west, east and south sides. This possible kiln of undetermined date and classification was found adjacent to the early modern field boundary features which included a gate pier and boundary wall foundations and a boundary ditch. The boundary features represent remnants of a field road running west-south-west/east-north-east from a farm comprising four buildings. The road as seen on the first-edition six-inch OS map (1837) was flanked by trees along the north side. Two existing gate pillars and a boundary wall survived in the field adjacent to the west from the development site. All those features were preserved in situ.