GARRETSTOWN 2
| Site Name/Townland | Site Number | Description | Provisional site type | Provisional dating |
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| Garretstown 2 | 2-08 | Industrial activity, pits and ditches adjacent moated site. | Possible Settlement/Industrial. | Medieval |
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| Extract of 1st Edition Ordance Survey Map (1836), showing site location at Garretstown 2. The archaeological site at Garretstown 2 is marked by a larger blue circle, located in Garretstown townland. The Dunshaughlin to Navan Road (coming from Dublin) runs south-east / north-west along the left-hand side of the map. The archaeological site at Garretstown 1 is indicated by the small blue circle to the north of Garretstown 2. (Map reproduced by courtesy of the Board of Trinity College Dublin) |
Geophysical Survey
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| Artist's impression of a medieval moated site (after Billy Colfer). These were well-defended farmsteads usually on the margins of Norman territory. |
The geophysical survey carried out as part of the Environmental Impact Statement identified a probable medieval moated site (c .60m x 60m) in Garretstown townland (at Garretstown 2). The medieval moated site at Garretstown 2 lies outside the roadtake, as the road was moved to avoid the square enclosure, but external features including industrial and agricultural activity have been exposed.
Testing
A number of features likely to be associated with the moated site were identified by the testing including a field system, a smithing hearth and a possible charcoal-manufacturing kiln.
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The moat was partially excavated and measured 3m in width x 1m in depth. Several other ditches were excavated in the vicinity, which may represent annexed enclosures or more likely field systems. No dating evidence was recovered. (Courtesy of ACS Ltd.)
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Preliminary Excavation Results
Two main phases of activity have been identified. In the absence of any diagnostic finds the dating of the site remains provisional until radiocarbon and OSL dates have been returned. The first phase of the site is represented by two large ringditches (one circular, one sub-circular) and perhaps a number of smaller circular ditch features. This phase is provisionally dated to the Bronze Age. The second phase of the site is represented by a series of large linear ditches and a large sub-rectangular enclosure with a massive ditch extending and lying mainly outside the landtake. This phase is provisionally dated to the early medieval period. Approximately 10 corn-drying kilns were excavated across the site and it is assumed that they also belong to the early medieval period.
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| Elevated view of Garretstown 2 showing ringditch in foreground (Courtesy of Hawkeye) |
OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) Dating
This cutting edge method of dating is used in archaeological situations where standard radiocarbon dating is not possible due to the lack of dateable artefacts, animal bones and charcoal from the archaeological features. The technique involves dating the approximate time span since quartz grains present in ditch fills / sediments were last exposed to light. Using this method it is possible to directly date the deposition of sediments within archaeological features. This method of dating was used at Garretstown 2 and provided a Middle Bronze Age date of 1724 †1364 BC for a ringditch feature on site. While the excavator had interpreted this area of the site as prehistoric, without the OSL date to confirm this, there would have always been a question mark over its interpreted date. It is believed that this is the first time OSL dating has been used in archaeology in Ireland.
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| OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) dating at Garretstown 2 |
Return to Section 2.
Final Report
Please click on the link to access the final archaeological report for Garretstown 2
| Final Report of Garretstown 2 | 8.43MB |
