Burial ground in Raystown

Located on a low N-S ridge with poorly drained ground at the base of the W-facing slope and a small canalised S-N tributary of the Broad Meadow River at the base of the E-facing slope c. 70m distant. A gradiometer survey (02R0051) by GSB identified a complex of archaeological features at Site 21 on the route of a proposed N2 road and bypass of Ashbourne. The features extend far outside the road-take especially to the W and cover a large area (dims c. 200m N-S; c. 200m E-W). Archaeological testing (03E1229) by C. Cotter confirmed the presence of large enclosures, a burial ground and souterrains (excavations.ie 2003:1459). Excavation within the road-take was undertaken by S. Halliday between October 2003 and January 2004 under the original licence (excacvations.ie 2003:1460), after which the work, covering a large area (dims c. 160m n-s; c. 60m E-W) was completed by M. Seaver under the same licence by January 2005 (excavations.ie 2004:1334). SUMMARY: While some later prehistoric features associated with iron-working (ME045-036001-) were recorded the bulk of the material relates to a burial ground and industrial activity of the Early Middle Ages, spanning the period 380-1160 cal. AD as provided by radiocarbon determinations. The excavated area was divided into four descriptive areas, each generally dominated by particular activities, and five main temporal phases with two sub-phases were identified in the stratigraphic development of this complex, although not all phases might be relevant to each area and there is a certain amount of overlap between the phases. Phase 1: 340-600 cal. AD Phase 2: 500-700 cal. AD Phase 3: 600-800 cal. AD Phase 4: 700-900 cal. AD Phase 5: 900-1150 cal. AD In broad outline, the excavation recorded, or partially uncovered, a central burial ground that outgrew its original enclosure (diam. 27m) (Phase 1) and was provided with an outer circular enclosure (diam. c. 54m) (Phase 2) that was soon turned into a D-shaped one by straightening the perimeter at N (dim. c. 46m N-S). There was some habitation associated with a metaled surface, a possible structure, and two souterrains (Phase 3) N of the foreshortened larger enclosure. Two corn-drying kilns were also excavated, together with evidence of metalworking. A large subrectangular enclosure (dims 55m N-S; c. 50m E-W) (Phase 3) defined by ditches and with an entrance on the E side surrounded all these features. Its ditches were re-cut at least once and it was provided with a later entrance at the NE angle. The rectangular enclosure became the centre of a field system which consists of a number of N-S and E-W gullies that were re-cut many times and run into a large NW-SE gully at S. South of the rectangular enclosure habitation is indicated by a number of hearths and metaled surfaces in an area that was deeply truncated by later gullies. In this area also were two corn-drying kilns, conveniently close to the S complex of water-mills (Phases 3-5). There are three areas with watermills, and the final mills are probably the last events at each location (Phase 5). Although oak timbers were present at most of the mills, short sequences of rings mean they are unsuitable for dendrochronology dating. At the N two mill-races approaching from NW and W feed the mill undercrofts with millhouses overhead, and the tail-races extend E towards the S-N stream. A central mill-race extended W-E (L c. 30m) before dropping in level suddenly to a robbed out millhouse and undercroft. At the S end of the complex five millhouse undercrofts can be identified utilising a number of head and tail-races and bypass channels, but the final mill had an adjacent millpond. (Seaver 2009) BURIAL GROUND Phase I: 340-600 cal. AD. A circular ring-ditch (int. diam. 27m N-S) defined by a narrow fosse (Wth 1-1.4m; D 0.4-0.46m) was established. No bank or entrance was apparent although an entrance at SW outside the excavated area is suggested by the gradiometer survey. A dump of hearth material, with E-ware and charred barley, at SE provides a C14 date of 410-560 cal. AD. The enclosure was used for inhumations, all roughly aligned W-E, the heads at W sometimes being supported by pillow stones. There are few grave-goods, although artefacts were plentiful in the fosse and in the topsoil. The earliest date from a burial is 340-435 cal. AD and one burial cutting the ditch fill is dated 430-610 cal. AD. Burial within the enclosure continued for over 500 years, and of the dated inhumations nine are assigned to Phase 1, seven to Phase 2, three to Phase 3 and two to Phase 4. (Seaver 2009, vol. 1, 25-7) The outer enclosure (int. diam. c. 47m) was established in Phase 2 (500-700 AD), and its defining fosse (Wth c. 1m; D 0.1m) was concentric with the inner enclosure. A rim fragment of a glass vessel dating from the fifth to seventh centuries was in the topsoil over it, but the N part of the ditch was re-cut may times and contained plenty of animal bones that provide a C14 date of 650-780 cal. AD. The first burials outside the inner enclosure date to this period. The enclosure was foreshortened on the N side by the provision of a new fosse (Wth 2.2m; D 0.7m) c. 5m inside the old line, which produced artefacts, including a bone comb. (ibid. 31-33) In total ninety three supine inhumations were recovered from all phases of the burial ground, as well as a large quantity of disarticulated remains. The inhumations are generally extended W-E with the heads at the W, and the heads are supported by small stones in only three instances. Most were within the inner enclosure, but burial was extending in lines S and E into the outer enclosure. However, although very little of the outer enclosure is used for burial, it was not utilised for any other purpose. Adult women and men were equally represented, but neo-natal remains were hardly present and there was a greater representation of juveniles in the S group in the outer enclosure. There was no evidence of grave-markers and only two of the graves might have been stone-lined. Seventy three were within the inner enclosure and burials were densest at the centre where there was frequent intercutting and a charnel pit. (ibid. 35-7) See the attached plans from Seaver (2009, vol. 2): _1 Geohphysical evidence (fig. 9) _2 Phase 1 (fig. 19) _3 The burials (fig. 12) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 20 December 2021