Hut site

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on a slight E-facing slope and in the SW quadrant of the henge (ME019-016001-). Archaeological excavation (E000090) in 1970 recorded a habitation layer as a grey-black charcoal-flecked soil, with a deeper deposit (D 0.6m) filling a hollow just to the NW. The habitation material filled a sunken oval area (dims 7m NE-SW; 5 m NW-SE; D 0.05-0.1m) with 13 post-holes mostly along the W side of the pit. There was a hearth (diam. 1m) delimited by stones at the centre and an area of cobbling at the E edge. Most of the pottery recovered came from the habitation area and included sherds of Neolithic shouldered bowls and Beaker pottery as well as what is probably Grooved ware. Very few flints were recorded from this area and they consist of scarpers and blades. A sample of charcoal from the hearth produced a radiocarbon date of 3810 +- 45 (cal. BC). (Sweetman 1971, 139; 1976, 36-60)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload: 10 July 2007
Amended: 28 January 2021

References

Sweetman, P.D. 1971 An earthen enclosure at Monknewtown, Slane preliminary report. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 101, 135-40.

Sweetman, P.D. 1976 An earthen enclosure at Monknewtown, Slane, Co. Meath. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 76C, 25-73.