Enclosure - large enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a slight rise in a fairly level landscape. A gradiometer survey (06R0083) of a large area (c. 48 ha) in Piercetown and Craddockstown townlands identified areas with potential archaeological features, including two large enclosures in Piercetown and a smaller one in Craddockstown (Harrison 2006). Targeted archaeological testing (06E0635) by T. Bolger (2006) confirmed the presence of the two larger features but the smaller one was shown to be non-archaeological, although three other smaller concentrations of archaeological features were identified (excavations.ie 2006:1621).
Systematic archaeological testing (16E0451) by Deirdre Murphy of the development area within Piercetown explored the larger enclosures (excavations.ie 2016:463). This programme also identified a third enclosure and three other potential, but smaller, archaeological areas. Two trenches and four testing areas explored this enclosure (Site 1). The perimeter of the enclosure (ext. dims c. 85m E-W; c. 55m N-S) was identified in segments of the outer fosse (Wth of top 1.7-2.5m) which was only sectioned at one point (Wth of top 2m; D 0.53m) where it contained silty grey clay fills with moderate inclusions of charcoal and animal bone at its base. Features such as ditches and pits were encountered in the interior, and the monument will be preserved as a green area. (Murphy 2016, P12-13)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 3 November 2021

References

Murphy, Deirdre 2016 Archaeological Assessment of Proposed Shire Gateway Business Park at Piercetown, Co. Meath. Licence: 16E0451. Unpublished report, ACSU

Bolger, T. 2006 Archaeological Testing at Piercetown, Co. Meath. Licence: 06E0635. Unpublished report, Margaret Gowen & Co.

Harrison, D. 2006 Geophysical Report, Piercetown, Co. Meath. Licence: 06R0083. Unpublished report, Margaret Gowen & Co.