Ratoath Co. Meath

Archaeological works have been ongoing at a site on the Dunshaughlin Road since Autumn 2003, in advance of a large housing development being built to the west of Ratoath village. A number of different sites have been identified along the top of a long low natural ridge, forming an important archaeological complex. Excavations over the past two years have been directed by Angela Wallace and Goorik Dehaene. In advance of the Directors' reports, this page presents an initial interpretation of results prepared by the Project Manager and the Assistant Director. We would expect these interpretations to be revised on completion of the Directors' analyses.

PREHISTORIC SITES

At the eastern end of the ridge, two prehistoric burial sites were excavated. Circular ditches of different sizes defined both. Radiocarbon analysis of animal bones found in the smaller circular ditch indicated that it was in use in the Bronze Age, approximately 3000 years ago (around the 11^th Century BC). This ditch probably represents the remains of a small barrow or burial mound of the Bronze Age. No human remains were recovered from the barrow.

The larger of the two ditches produced the cremated remains of a 25 year old individual, and dated from some time between 130 AD and 350 AD, in the last few centuries before the introduction of Christianity to Ireland. This ditch probably represents the remains of a ring ditch, an Iron Age burial site where cremated human remains were interred.

EARLY MEDIEVAL BURIAL SITE

54 human burials were excavated from a small burial area at the high point of the ridge. This included the skeletons of 32 adults, 13 juveniles, 4 infants and 5 mixed deposits of bone.

Radiocarbon analysis carried out on these skeletons shows that burial started on this site in the 5^th Century AD, shortly after the introduction of Christianity to Ireland. Burial continued at this site into the 7^th Century AD, and possibly even as late as the 9^th Century, but there is no evidence that it continued past this date.

Unusually, one of the women had been buried with a unique decorated copper neck-ring placed around her neck. This burial was provisionally dated by radiocarbon analysis to the late 6th or 7th centuries. The presence of such jewellery in Christian burials of this date is very rare and may point towards an intrusive element in the population. In order to address the question of the woman’s origins, isotope analysis is being undertaken in the University of Bradford on one of her molars.

Further study of these skeletons should produce important information about the health and lifestyle of the Meath population in the 5^th to 8^th centuries AD. Currently the osteoarchaeologist Ms. Linda Fibiger is compiling the final report.

It is very likely that more skeletons still remain buried on the site, but as this part of the ridge is going to be preserved intact within the development, it was decided that no more burials should be excavated at this time.

EARLY MEDIEVAL ENCLOSURE, KILNS AND FIELDS

Apparently contemporary with several of the burials of 6^th and 7^th Centuries AD, a large circular ditch 40 metres in diameter was constructed on the highpoint of the ridge, completely enclosing the earlier burial area. The last infilling of this ditch occurred in the 7^th–8^th Centuries. This seems to have formed the focus of an Early Medieval settlement. From the enclosure ditch and the surrounding area, a range of interesting artefacts were recovered. These included a fine penannular brooch, a decorated metal garment fastener that has a gap in its circular circumference, with a long pin attached.

Other finds included: bracelets of lignite stone; beads of amber, glass and faience; a metal awl for boring small holes; several iron knives; pieces of decorated bone comb; weaving tools and cloak pins made of animal bone.

A network of field ditches spread out around this enclosure, extending over the whole ridge. Many of these field ditches seem to be older or contemporary with the large enclosure ditch, and may have been originally dug in the 6^th century. There is evidence that some of these ditches were still being used and maintained into the Norman period (12^th-14^th centuries), additional ditches were dug in the 15^th to 17^th centuries, and some of the older examples had even been re-used for modern drainage purposes in the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Within this long-lived farming landscape, evidence for cattle raising, cereal production and metal working was recovered.

The large early medieval enclosure and any burials that may remain within it will be preserved intact within the housing development.

Analysis of all the skeletons, artefacts and other material is continuing.

Stephen Johnston, Agnes Kerrigan