Structure in Johnstown (ratoath By., Dunshaughlin Par.)

Three structures, defined by slot-trenches but with few or no post-holes or internal features and therefore more probably drip-gullies, were c. 6-12m inside the line of the outer fosse, and another structure (ME044-061002-) was c. 10m outside the enclosure at E. Almost the only material recovered from the internal structures was flint but an iron shears was found in the trench of Structure C, and the structures within the enclosure are probably contemporary with it. Structure A is subrectangular (int. dims c. 5.5m x c. 4.7m) and defined by wide trenches (Wth 0.7-0.8m; D 0.2m) at N and S but there are wide gaps at W (Wth c. 2.7m) and E (Wth c. 2.4m). Structure B, inside the outer fosse at E, was defined by a semi-circular (int. diam. c. 3.3m), steep-sided and flat-bottomed slot-trench (Wth 0.4m; D 0.3m) open to the SE. Structure C, just to the S of B, was a large semi-circular (int. diam. c. 10m) slot-trench in three sections open to the E. The trench varied in width and depth, being greatest (Wth c. 0.85m; D c. 0.2m) at NW, and there is an opening (Wth c. 1.5m) between two sections of the slot-trench at W with a large pit (diam. 2.24-2.4m; D 0.3m) inside the opening. (Elder and Ginn 2009, 5-6) See the attached plan from Elder and Ginn (2009, fig. 8) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 9 December 2021