Structure

The National Monuments Service's description

Archaeological monitoring (03E0666) by K. Campbell of an area of about 25 hectares (c. 60 acres) in the N borrowing area of a mining development identified seven principal areas of archaeological potential that were set aside for further investigation (excavations.ie 2003:1448). Site 7a proved to be two small pits and four sections of slot-trenches which were excavated (04E13351) by Murray (2008, 16-17) and a sample of hazel charcoal from a slot-trench returned a C14 date of 160 cal. BC- 60 cal. AD (Wk -22262).
Site 7b was c. 30m NW of Site 7a but the two monuments were probably not contemporary. The features of site 7b were completely excavated (04E1351) by C. Murray (excavations.ie 2004:1318) and consisted of five post-holes, three stake-holes, two post-pits and four larger pits within a confined area (dims c. 10m E-W; c. 8m N-S). The three stake-holes and a post-hole form a NE-SW line (L 1.15m), and 2.5m to the SE four post-holes form a parallel NE-S line (L c. 8.6m). One of these post-holes had thirteen pieces of flint including retouched flakes and a fragment of a polished porcellanite stone axe. The W edge was provided by a NNW-SSE line of post-holes or pits (L c. 7m) and two other pits are in the area formed by the outer lines. All the pits (dims c. 1.5m x 0.95m; D c. 0.3m) and post-holes are well-spaced c. 2m apart, although one post-hole has been cut by a pit. No absolute dating was provided by any of these features. (Murray 2008, 18-20)

See the attached site plan from Murray (2008, fig. 17)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 27 March 2023

Campbell, K. 2004 Report on Archaeological Monitoring at Randalstown, Co. Meath. Licence: 03E0666. Unpublished report, Author
Murray, C. 2008 Excavations at Tara Mines, Randalstown, Co. Meath. Licence: 04E1351. Unpublished report, CRDS