AR01055_EMAP_Gazetteer_of_Sites_4-2_10.pdf - The Heritage ...

Meath
graves and were oriented slightly north-west/south-east, with the head to the west. However,
three burials had slight south-west/north-east orientations and one poorly preserved and
disturbed burial appeared to be crouched. E ware was recovered from some grave fills
indicating that the cemetery was in use during the sixth and seventh centuries.
Although McConway has assigned the cemetery to Phase VII, its central location and the
presence of a potential crouched burial suggests that the burial ground was the initial focus
of the site and probably originated during the late Iron Age. It is likely that settlement and
agricultural activity developed form the site’s initial use as a burial ground and that
settlement, burial, industry and agriculture were practised alongside each other across many
centuries.
Two souterrains and a large pit – possibly a well – were assigned to Phase VIII. The larger
example cut through a junction of ditches associated with Phases I-IV and VI to the north of
the site and the smaller souterrain cut the inner edge and upper fills of the large enclosure
that surrounded the cemetery and a range of other features.
A number of enclosures to the south of the site were also revealed. The earliest, with an
entrance to the southwest, was sub-rectangular and had a diameter of 24.6m. A larger
second enclosure measured 50m by 30m. A third enclosure, measuring 80m by 60m, had a
substantial ditch which was 2m deep and 3.5m wide. A noticeable lack of archaeology along a
10m band on the inner side of the ditch suggests the former presence of a formidable bank.
The ditch was open for some time and a small bucket stave, made from yew, was recovered
from the basal fill. Other finds included animal bone, shell, a bone peg, some glass beads, a
jet bracelet fragment and two ringed pins. Little survived internally within the enclosures due
to heavy truncation. A decorated ringed pin, dating to the late tenth/early eleventh century, is
similar to examples from Scandinavian Dublin and it is likely that the inhabitants during this
phase were in contact with the town.
(No plans were available for this site).
References:
McConway, C. 2001:1007. Ninch, Laytown, Co. Meath. www.excavations.ie.
McConway, C. 2002:1489. Ninch, Laytown, Co. Meath. www.excavations.ie.
McConway, C. 2002. Excavations at Laytown reveal coastal settlement in Meath. Archaeology
Ireland 16(1), 16–19.
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