Field system in Ratoath

Located on the SE-facing slope of a NW-SE spur. Traces of a field system were uncovered in soil stripping (03E1300) in advance of an extensive housing development (Wallace 2003). The fields are small rectangular areas (dims c. 30-40m x c. 30-40m) defined by single ditches, and cover an area (dims c. 150m NW-SE; c. 100m NE-SW) extending SE from the burial ground (ME044-044006-). One drain with an opening cuts the large ring-ditch (ME044-044005-). A gap in the field drain here was excavated, and the terminals were filled with angular fist-sized stones. A large quantity of animal bones, including two boar’s tusks, were recovered from this fill. It is possible that two field systems are represented as wider drains (Wth c. 2m) survive closer to the burial ground (ME044-044003-), some probably attaching to its fosse but at least one cuts N-S through the E part of the interior. These fields are larger (dims c. 70m x c. 30m). (Wallace 2003; 2006a) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 14 September 2020