What is recorded here

Four small pits near Randalstown held charcoal and returned carbon dates spanning 1440 to 1190 cal. BC, beside flint, post-medieval pottery and a glass fragment. They may have marked hearths, refuse or temporary work done by people whose names never survived. The larger pit contained broken sandstone but no burning, suggesting tool use or building rather than feast. Much of the surrounding earth was later taken for the mine, deleting the wider shape of their presence.

Archaeological monitoring (03E0666) by K. Campbell of an area of about 25 hectares (c. 60 acres) in the N borrowing area of a mining development identified seven principal areas of archaeological potential that were set aside for further investigation (excavations.ie 2003:1448). Site 1 is described by Campbell (2004, 6-9) as an extensive area (dims c. 150m N-S; c. 120m E-W) with dispersed and largely individual features. There were only two concentrations, at the NW where there were twelve individual features and on a rise at the S central area that had at least seven features. The material is described as clays that are different in composition and colour to the subsoil. Some contained broken and burnt stone as well as occasional pieces of bone. Most features were quite small (dims 0.3m to 1.4m x 0.9m) but some linear features were also present. A sherd of pottery that is thought to be prehistoric was recovered from one context. Some excavation (04E1351) was conducted around the southern edge of the central area by C. Murray (2008, 24-6) but most of it was untouched (excavations.ie 2004:1318). The excavation recorded four small pits (dims 0.5-1.6m x 0.38-0.9m; D 0.07-0.28m) filled with grey silty clay, and C14 dates of 1440-1290-1290 cal. BC (Wk-22261) and 1420-1190 cal. BC (Wk-21544) were returned for two of them. Two pieces of flint, two sherds of post-medieval pottery and a fragment of glass were also recovered. In the course of a later archaeological assessment (10E0075) P. D. Sweetman (2010, 4-6) discovered that the soil covering over the archaeological area had been removed. This was particularly the case in the NW part of this area where nothing could be recovered. In the main area there were some small pits (diam. c. 0.15-0.4m) with charcoal flecks in the fill, but most of the black stained soil contained no carbon. The largest feature (dims 0.7m x c. 0.5m; D 0.7m) did contain some broken sandstone but was not burnt. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 27 March 2023 Campbell, K. 2004 Report on Archaeological Monitoring at Randalstown, Co. Meath. Licence: 03E0666. Unpublished report, Author Murray, C. 2008 Excavations at Tara Mines, Randalstown, Co. Meath. Licence: 04E1351. Unpublished report, CRDS Sweetman, P. D 20 Report on Archaeological Assessment and Resolution of Archaeological Features (sites 1-5) Randalstown, County Meath. July-August 2011. Licence: 10E0075. Unpublished report, Author

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