Field system in Cappakeel

New monument uncovered during excavation by Ros O Maolduin under licence number 03E0633 in advance of the M7 Heath-Mayfield motorway scheme. The excavation at site F at Cappakeel townland revealed a prehistoric ring-ditch (LA009-050), a linear ditch of medieval date and a series of charcoal production pits (LA009-052). The ring-ditch was relatively small, with an internal diameter of 3.5m. It showed no evidence of any entrance but was disturbed on the NW side by a linear medieval ditch. The burnt deposits that filled the ditch indicate at least two phases of deposition. The linear medieval ditch was orientated on a NE-SW axis, It produced a crutch-headed stirrup-looped ring pin and a rotary grinding stone. The ring pin may date from approx. 1000-1050 AD. Coupled with the finds the linear ditch suggests the existence of a contemporaneous settlement in the vicinity. The ditch may be part of a medieval field system beside an enclosure similar to those recently discovered at Killickaweeny, Co. Kildare, and Balriggan, Co. Louth (Bennett 2006, 289). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007