Ring-ditch

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at the crest of a N-facing slope down to a canalised W-E section of the Broad Meadow River which is c. 30m to the N. Archaeological testing and excavation (02E0708) by W. Frazer revealed a ring-ditch and associated features (excavation.ie 2004:1167). The ring-ditch is a circular area (int. diam. 7m; ext. diam. 10.35m) defined by a U-shaped fosse (Wth of top 1.5-1.85m; max. D 0.54m) which contained some flints and pottery sherds where it was sampled. There was no entrance through the fosse but it did cut some earlier pits. The ditch had been deliberately filled in, perhaps with material from a central mound, but no burial or cremated remains were found in the interior. However, 11m to the SE was a single pit burial (dims 0.49m x 0.42; D 0.15m) with some fragments of burnt human bone, which produced a C14 date of 1500-1260 cal. BC. After its abandonment the ring-ditch was used for metalworking (ME045-073001-), but much of the ring-ditch is preserved beneath the playground developed over the area. (Frazer 2008)

See the attached plan from Frazer (2008, fig. 8)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 22 December 2021

References

Frazer, W. O. 2008 Archaeological Excavation: Playground. Ashbourne Town Centre Development, Killegland townland. Licence: 02E0708. Final Report. Margaret Gowen & Co.