Excavation - miscellaneous

The National Monuments Service's description

First identified in topsoil stripping (00E0282) for the M1 Motorway (al Fraihat 2000, 4), it was excavated (01E0295) as Rathmullan 13, the name of which was later changed to Rathmullan 7. A Late Neolithic phase consisting of two pits and a concentration of post and stake-holes was identified. A large pit (diam. 1.6-1.64m; D 0.58m) contained fills with flecks of charcoal and bone and a complete Grooved Ware bowl and other Grooved Ware fragments. Radiocarbon dating indicates a range of 2840-2470 BC. Late Neolithic pottery and flint artefacts, including debitage suggest an industrial use, but the deposition of a complete pot is interpreted as ritual activity. (Bolger 2002, 2011)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 21 October, 2015

References

al Fraihat, M. 2000 Archaeological pre-construction topsoil stripping Northern Motorway Newtown – Monasterboice – Gormanstown, Co. Meath. CH24500, Oldbridge townald – CH2200, Platin Townland. Licence No. 00E0282. Unpublished report, Valerie J. Keeley.

Bolger, T. 2002 Three sites on the M1 Moteroway at Rathmullan, Co. Meath. Ríocht na Mídhe, 13, 8-17.

Bolger, T. 2011 M1 Northern Motorway: Gormanston – Monasterboice (Drogheda Bypass) Platin to Oldbridge; Chainage: 21600-24800 Contract 7 01E0295: Rathmullan 7 (formerly Rathmullan 13) Final Report, Unpublished, Irish Archaeological Consultancy