Enclosure in Athlumney

INTRODUCTION: Situated on a fairly level landscape. Archaeological testing and excavation (97E0322 ext.) by M. McQuade (2007) in January to March 2007 on the route of a N-S link-road through an IDA Business Park recorded (excavations.ie 2007:1254) the NE end of a rectilinear enclosure (int. dims c. 38m NE-SW; c. 32m NW-SE) defined by single fosses or ditches (at SW: Wth of top c. 2.5m). In the strip (dims 50m N-S; 20m E-W) excavated by McQuade three hut-sites, an external ring-ditch and several other ditches and pits were recorded. Four phases of occupation were recognised that dated from the Late Neolithic, later prehistory, the Early Medieval Period and the post-medieval. The SW extent of this enclosure was revealed by Hession (2009, 32-4) who recorded two slot-trenches at the SW edge of the interior, but much of the centre was obscured by an unstripped haul road between the excavations. There was a small entrance gap in the fosses at the N angle, but a more viable entrance might exist in the unexcavated and unexposed parts either on either the NW or SE sides. McQuade completely excavated the NE portion of the rectangular enclosure, but the rest is preserved in situ beneath introduce soils. ENCLOSURE: On McQuade’s excavation the earliest features were three cooking pits (dims 0.6m x 0.38; D 0.12m to 1.05m x 0.86m; D 0.08m) with charcoal-rich fills that had fire-shattered stones, although the bases were not fire-reddened, and a section of a ditch (Wth 1.84m; D 0.38m). The presence of the pits might be fortuitous but a C14 date of 2851-2463 cal. BC (UBA-8093) was returned from one of them, placing them at the end of the Neolithic. Period 2 is represented by portions of three fosses defining a rectangular enclosure (int. dims c. 38m NE-SW; c. 32m NW-SE), the SW edge of which was recorded by Hession (2009). The SE ditch (Wth 2.1m; D 0.64m) had five fills where sampled but no dating material was recovered. Structure 3 (dims c. 9m NE-SW; c. 6m NW-SE), the only contemporary structure, backs on to the NE enclosing fosse and is represented by two slot-trenches, although its S side is entirely absent. A prehistoric date is suggested only because it is later than the Late Neolithic pits and earlier than the two Early Medieval hut-sites (ME025-079002-). See the attached plans from Hession _01, _02 (2009, figs 5, 6) and McQuaid _03, _04 (2007, figs 5, 7) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 31 March 2023 Hession, J. 2009 Final Archaeological Report for the multiphase archaeological landscape preserved in situ at IDA Business and Technology Park, Dublin, Rd., Navan, Co. Meath. Licence: 07E0892. Unpublished report, Margaret Gowen & Co. McQuade, M. 2007 Archaeological Monitoring and Excavation, Athlumney, Co. Meath. Licence: 97E0322ext. Unpublished report, Margaret Gowen & Co.