Excavation — miscellaneous in Simonstown

Situated on a fairly level landscape. Archaeological monitoring (98E0352) of topsoil stripping over an area of about 38 hectares (c. 95 acres) by C. Ó Drisceoil identified six areas of potential archaeological importance consisting largely of pits filled with charcoal and burnt stones (excavations.ie 1998:526). In Area 5 28 pits were originally identified, some of which were excavated at the time. When the area was re-examined (12E0311) by P. D. Sweetman (2012, 14-22) fewer features remained (excavations. ie 2012:660). A pit (diam. c. 1m; D 0.15m) was filled with hard-packed soil that had stones and some charcoal flecks and cremated bone. Two thumb-nail scrapers were also recovered from it. A second pit (dims 0.65m x 0.5m; D 0.1m) was c. 16m to the SE and had a dark grey fill that produced 14 pieces of waste flint. A third pit (dims 0.6m x 0.4m; D ) with a post-pit (diam. 0.15-0.2m; D 0.25m) was 2.6m to the N of the second pit and produced 42 pieces of mostly waste flint and one piece of chert. A fourth pit (diam. 0.6m; D 0.24m) just 0.7m to the W of the third had a fill with flecks of charcoal and cremated bone and 43 pieces of mostly waste flint. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 30 March 2023 Ó Drisceoil, C. 1998 Archaeological Test-excavations at Simonstown, Co. Meath. Licence: 98E0352. Unpublished Interim Report, Archaeological Consultancy Services Sweetman, P. D. 2012 Report on Archaeological Assessment, Monitoring and Excavation at Simonstown, County Meath, August-September 2012. Licence: 12E0311. Unpublished report, Author