Field system in Clonee

Archaeological testing (04E1383) by A. Hayden on a large development site of about 8 hectares (c. 20 acres) uncovered evidence of furrows at its N limit, and more complex evidence of medieval fields at its SW edge (Hayden 2004). Further excavation under the same licence (Hayden 2005) recorded a NE-SW boundary ditch with furrows relating to it on the NW side where a rectangular stone-walled structure (ME051-044001-) and kiln (ME051-044002-) pre-dated the furrows. South-west of the boundary a drainage ditch extended SW, and the remains of a small sod-walled structure (ME051-044003-) survived (excavations.ie 2004:1207). The boundary was visible as a relict surface feature further NE but at SW it had no surface trace. Excavation revealed a ditch (Wth of top 5m; max. D 1.4m) filled with silts and loams and containing medieval pottery. It originated at an amorphous wet boggy hollow (D c. 0.5m) at SW, and a ditch (Wth 3-4m; max. D 1.1m) bifurcating into two drains (Wth 1-1.2m; max. D 0.4m) extended from this to the SW. North-west of the boundary there was evidence of two cultivation systems, both of which were later than the building and kiln. The earlier consisted of lazy-bed trenches (max. Wth 0.2m; max. D 0.1m) placed c. 2-3m apart and aligned E-W. The second system comprised furrows (Wth 0.2-0.5m; D 0.1-0.3m) placed closer together and aligned NW-SE. These were within a plot (dims 30m NE-SW; 26m plus NW-SE) bounded by the NE-SW boundary drain at SE, by a double drain (Wth 1.8-2m; max. D 0.4m) at NE, and a single gully (Wth c. 1m; D 0.3-0.5m) at SW. (Hayden 2005, 2-5, 9) See the attached plan from Hayden (2005, fig. 3) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 9 November 2021