Habitation site

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a level landscape. Topsoil stripping (02E0194) in advance of a gas pipeline identified a charcoal-rich concentration (BGE: 6/1/2), which was completely excavated (02E0326). An irregularly shaped hearth was associated with five other pits within in a hollow (diam. c. 4m), and one of the pits contained excess ash from the hearth. There were post and stake-holes for a small screen just NE of the hearth. One of the associated pits had a carefully laid stone on the base and contained a fragment of a saddle quern, a rubber and a large fragment of domestic Food Vessel pottery. Two radiocarbon dates focus on a date of c. 2050-1880 BC. (Byrne, E. 2002; 2004; Byrne 2007)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 8 March, 2018

References

Byrne, E. 2004 Gormanston: Bronze Age habitation site, 02E0326. In I. Bennettt (ed.) Excavations 2002: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 412, No. 1460. Bray, Wordwell

Byrne, E. 2002 Gas Pipeline to the West, Section 1A Archaeological Stratigraphic Report, Gormanston, Co. Meath. Licence No. 02E0326. Site ref. 6/1/2. Unpublished report, Margaret Gowen and Co.

Byrne, E. 2007 No. 1460. Gormanston, Bronze Age habitation site. in Grogan, E., O'Donnell, L, and P. Johnston (eds) The Bronze Age landscapes of the Pipeline to the West: an integrated archaeological and environmental assessment, 324. Bord Gáis Eireann and Wordwell, Bray