Ring-ditch

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a slight E-W ridge in a fairly level landscape. The cropmark of a small circular feature (int. diam. c. 10m) defined by a single fosse feature is visible on an aerial image (OSAP: 1995). The ring-ditch (ME049A003002-) is 23m to the E along the rise, and they were first noted by Tom Condit in 2017. Archaeological testing (19E0547) by L. Coen (2019, 12) confirmed this feature (excavations.ie 2019:243) as a circular platform (int. diam. c. 12m; ext. diam. 15.75m) defined by a V-shaped fosse (Wth 1.05-2.7m; D 0.8m) filled with a brown sandy clay. Later, it was completely excavated (19E0686) by the same archaeologist (excavations.ie 2020:305) when it was recorded as a circular area (ext. diam. 15.8m) defined by an annular fosse (Wth 1.2-2.45m; D 0.48-1.24m) which was deepest at S-SW. There was no uncut causeway or any internal features and the ditch had eight naturally-accumulating deposits. A fragment of ash charcoal from a lens of silty material at the base of the fosse at SW returned a C14 date of 1620-1490 cal. BC (UBA: 43429), placing it in the Middle Bronze Age. The sample contained some burnt human bone, but no artefacts were recovered. (Coen 2020, 4)

See the attached enhanced view (_1) from OSAP (1995) and the finished excavation (_2) on left

Date of upload: 9 January, 2017
Amended: 27 August 2019, 28 May 2021, 12 July 2022;

References

Coen, L. 2019 Newtownmoyaghy, Kilcock, Co. Meath. Archaeological Impact Assessment. Licence: 19E0547. Unpublished report, Archer Heritage Planning

Coen, L. 2020 Archaeological excavation of two ring-ditches, Newtownmoyaghy, Kilcock, Co. Meath. Licence: 19E0686. Final unpublished report, Archer Heritage Planning