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Meath<br />

Cormeen, Co. Meath<br />

Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure<br />

Grid reference: N738891 (27380/28910)<br />

SMR No: N/A<br />

Excavation License No: N/A<br />

Excavation duration/year: 1992<br />

Site director: C. McConway and E. Halpin (ADS Ltd.)<br />

Excavations at Cormeen revealed an enclosure and internal souterrain with associated<br />

postholes and gullies. <strong>The</strong> souterrain was trapezoidal-shaped and measured approximately<br />

10m in length and was 2.5m wide at its terminal end. It appears it was unlined as there was<br />

no evidence <strong>of</strong> stone paving or stone uprights or any evidence that wood was utilised for its<br />

construction. <strong>The</strong> entrance consisted <strong>of</strong> three steps that were cut into the subsoil and they<br />

accessed a gently sloping passage. <strong>The</strong> maximum depth <strong>of</strong> the souterrain was 2.6m. <strong>The</strong> only<br />

finds were both Bronze Age pottery and souterrain ware which came from the souterrain’s<br />

upper fills.<br />

A number <strong>of</strong> gullies and postholes were located in the immediate vicinity <strong>of</strong> the souterrain<br />

hinting at the former presence <strong>of</strong> structures but heavy truncation <strong>of</strong> the site did not enable<br />

further interpretation.<br />

<strong>The</strong> enclosing ditch was revealed by machine trenching prior to pipe-laying. It was positioned<br />

6m west <strong>of</strong> the souterrain and measured 2.6m in width and was 1m deep. <strong>The</strong> ditch fill was<br />

relatively sterile. <strong>The</strong> enclosure ditch appeared to relate to another ditch section<br />

approximately 43m to the west. <strong>The</strong>refore, the souterrain and associated gullies and<br />

postholes were within an enclosure that measured 43m in diameter.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re was indirect evidence <strong>of</strong> an accompanying bank because the volume <strong>of</strong> re-deposited<br />

natural was noticeably deeper close to the lip <strong>of</strong> the western ditch. It is possible that the bank<br />

overlay the souterrain and the settlement builders may have deliberately incorporated the<br />

underground passage into the enclosing bank.<br />

(No plans were available for this site).<br />

Reference:<br />

McConway, C. & Halpin, E. 1992:150. Cormeen, Co. Meath. www.excavations.ie.<br />

535

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