Excavation

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 7a is c. 30m S of Site 7b and they were probably not contemporary. Site 7a was excavated (04E1351) by C. Murray (excavations.ie 2004:1318) and consisted of two NE-SW sections of interrupted slot-trenches placed c. 3m apart. The N group has two trenches set end to end, the E of which (L 2.8m; Wth 0.71m; D 0.27m) may have had a post removed from its W end. The other (L 2.6m; Wth 0.65m; D 0.13m) has a darker silt fill and charcoal flecks were present in both. The S line also has two trenches set end to end with a gap (Wth 1.2m between them. The larger E trench (L 2.95m; Wth 0.84m; D 0.16m) with a black/brown silty fill that has frequent charcoal and burnt stone inclusions while the W trench (L 1.16m; Wth 0.58m; D 0.16m) had a similar fill. The slot-trenches did not extend any further but they were cut by N-S furrows. No artefacts were recovered but a piece of hazel charcoal from one of the N trenches provided a C14 date of 160 cal. BC – 60 cal. AD (Wk – 22262). (Murray 2008, 16-18) See the attached plan from Murray (2008, fig. 15) 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 Unpublished report, Author Murray, C. 2008 Excavations at Tara Mines, Randalstown, Co. Meath.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 Unpublished report, CRDS