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

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Meath<br />

Immediately to the west was a layer <strong>of</strong> fire-reddened or burnt clay. A roughly east–westoriented<br />

sub-linear cut was located to the south <strong>of</strong> the linear gullies. Its base contained a<br />

layer <strong>of</strong> fire-reddened or burnt clay and pottery, a clay mould and two pieces <strong>of</strong> iron slag<br />

were recovered from its fills indicating further industrial activity. A number <strong>of</strong> pits were<br />

associated with Phase III and one contained iron slag, a sherd <strong>of</strong> pottery and a number <strong>of</strong><br />

pot-boiler stones. <strong>The</strong> occurrence <strong>of</strong> the latter and bone fragments suggests that some <strong>of</strong> the<br />

dumped material originated from a domestic source.<br />

2. Inland Promontory Fort<br />

Excavation <strong>of</strong> the western half <strong>of</strong> Platin Fort (consisting <strong>of</strong> a substantial west–east-aligned<br />

rock outcrop covering an area approximately two acres and surviving up to 10m above the<br />

surrounding landscape) – in advance <strong>of</strong> the M1 road-scheme – revealed a middle Iron Age<br />

burial and a Neolithic spread. This area had been badly damaged by quarrying and, as a<br />

result, no enclosing earthworks were present. Early medieval occupational evidence was<br />

lacking but tentative indicators included lignite bracelet fragments, a stone bead and a ringed<br />

pin which were retrieved from the topsoil.<br />

Test excavations to the south and north <strong>of</strong> the fort also failed to reveal settlement evidence<br />

but the remains <strong>of</strong> at least two cereal-drying kilns were revealed to the north and one has<br />

been dated between the eleventh and twelfth centuries.<br />

Fig. 260: Plan <strong>of</strong> Structures at Platin, Co. Meath (after Lynch 2002).<br />

References:<br />

Conway, M. 2001:1019. Platin Fort, Co. Meath. www.excavations.ie.<br />

Lynch, R. 2000:0774. Platin, Co. Meath. www.excavations.ie.<br />

Lynch, R. 2001:1022. Duleek Road, Platin, Co. Meath. www.excavations.ie.<br />

Lynch, R. 2002. Stratigraphic report on an archaeological excavation at Site 22, Northern<br />

motorway, contract 7, Platin, Co. Meath. Unpub’d IAC Report.<br />

569

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