RAYNESTOWN 1
| Site Name/ Townland | Site Number | Description | Basic Interpretation | Provisional dating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raynestown 1 | 1-16 | Circular enclosure with Bronze Age pottery. | Burial ring ditch | Bronze Age |
A ring-ditch 1.25m wide and enclosing an area 17m in diameter, was identified at Raynestown 1 (Section 1) during archaeological testing in 2004. This ringditch was excavated during the summer of 2006 and the preliminary summary results are outlined below.
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| Extract of 1st edition Ordnance Survey map (1836) showing location of site at Raynestown 1, indicated by the large blue circle left of centre on the image. The smaller blue circle to the north-west indicates the location of the burnt spread and pit uncovered during testing at Raynestown 2. The main road from Dunboyne to Dunshaughlin runs south-east / north-west on the right-hand side of the map. (Reproduced by courtesy of the Board of Trinity College Dublin). |
Excavation
Archaeological excavations at Raynestown 1 by Stuart Elder (ACS Ltd) are now complete and post-excavation analysis is ongoing. Excavation revealed a continuous, double ring-ditch (outer ditch: 30m circumference and 9m external diameter) with outer banks (see site plan below).
A large quantity of animal bone was recovered from the ditches, including that of boar. In the southeast quadrant of the outer ring-ditch ritual deposits of charcoal and cremated bone were recovered. Excavation of the inner ring-ditch produced multiple artefacts, including an antler handle with a cut for hafting, a piece of antler with a groove for a tether, and numerous sherds of late Bronze Age pottery.
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| Site plan of Raynestown 1 post-excavation (Courtesy of ACS Ltd) |
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| Elevated view of Raynestown showing enclosure (Courtesy of Hawkeye) |
Artifacts
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| Prehistoric pottery rim sherd |
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| Prehistoric pottery large rim sherd |
Return to Section 1.
Final Report
Please click on the link to access the final archaeological report for Raynestown 1
| Final Report of Raynestown 1 | 6.03MB |
