Field system in Rath (ratoath By., Cookstown Par.)

Situated on a SW-facing slope. Archaeological excavation (03E1214) by H. Schweitzer between March and October 2004 in advance of the northern section of the N2 by-pass around Ashbourne on site 27 involved the complete excavation of six areas numbered from the S. Features recorded in Areas 3 and 4 included pits and metalled surfaces that probably represent some industrial activity (ME039-012001-) together with drains that represent elements of a field system that is probably later prehistoric in date (Schweitzer 2009, 20). A long ditch (L c. 200m; Wth of top 1.3-1.6m; D 0.45-0.7m) extends across the excavated areas running from NE to SW, crossing the gradient and running almost parallel with and just to the NW of one of the drains respecting the industrial area (ME039-012001-). At its NE end it cuts a pit (dims 2.1m; x 1.8m; D 0.5m) that produced a C14 date of 770-380 cal. BC, and the pit truncates two other drains that meet at this point. Towards its SW end the long drain cuts a NW-SE drain that itself cuts the S drain around the industrial area, indicating that both these larger drains that meet almost at a right angle are later than the industrial works, although perhaps not by much (ibid. 43-4). The long drain was re-cut in places and at two points it is overlaid by metalled surfaces (ibid. 45-6). The pattern created is of large rectangular fields (dims c. 70m x c. 30m plus) defined by single ditches and aligned across the contours. Four pits, including one which cut the S end of the long ditch and produced a C14 date of 890-1160 Cal. AD, and an L-shaped ditch cutting at the NE end of the long drain and in which glass toggles were recovered can be ascribed to the early medieval period (ibid. 60-2). Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 3 March 2021