Ring-ditch

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated towards the top of a gentle S-facing slope. A magnetic gradiometer survey (09R0089) by D. Harrison identified numerous archaeological features in a field on the N side of the R125 leading W from Dunshaughlin and c. 1km from the centre of the village and the site of St Seachnall’s monastery (ME044-033002-). The central feature is a complex early medieval enclosure or rath with annexes and a burial ground, but a possible ring-ditch was identified c. 90m outside the rath to the NE. The edges of the ring-ditch (int. diam. 6m) were confirmed in excavation (09E0214) by J. Hession and C. Moriarty (2009, 12) when it was encountered at N (Wth 0.6m; D 0.05m) and S (Wth 0.6m; D 0.1m). The slight ditch was filled with a brown silty clay which appeared to be sterile but a sherd of post-medieval creamware was recovered from its surface. An open area excavation (15E0125) by S. McGlade subsequently failed to identify this monument, probably because bedrock was close to the surface and the defining ditch was so shallow. However, the recovery of Bronze Age pottery from a ditch in the vicinity confirms the likely presence of a prehistoric feature (McGlade 2020, vol. 1, 7, 84).

See the attached gradiometer data from Hession and Moriarty (2009, fig. 6)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 4 May 2022

References

Hession, J. and Moriarty, C. 2009 Archaeological Assessment and Impact Statement. Roestown, Readsland and Knocks Townlands, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath. Licence: 09E0214. Unpublished report, Margaret Gowen & Co.

McGlade, S. 2020 Preliminary Excavation Report. Readsland, Dunshaughlin. Licences: 15E0125; 18R0174. Unpublished report, 2 vols archaeology plan