BOYERSTOWN 1

Site Name/ Townland Site Number Description Provisional site type Provisional dating
Boyerstown 1 3-13 Stone walls and midden material Building and enclosed settlement or Field system Medieval

 

A small-scale medieval settlement was identified at Boyerstown 1 west of Navan adjacent to the existing Athboy Road (Section 3).

Textual description below
Extract of 1st edition Ordnance Survey map (1836) showing location of site at Boyerstown 1, indicated by the small blue circle in the lower half of the image. The road to the north-west of the site runs south-west / north-east to Navan town from Athboy. The location of possible Prehistoric and/or Early Medieval settlement and field systems identified during testing at Boyerstown 3 is indicated by the larger blue circle to the north-west. (Map reproduced by courtesy of the Board of Trinity College Dublin)

The site consisted of low stone walls, metalled areas and deposits of midden material containing animal bone and 13th /14th-century pottery.

The low standing remains of loose stone walling uncovered during testing at Boyerstown 1. These features appear to form part of a partitioned enclosure, possibly a farmyard. (Courtesy of ACS Ltd.)
The low standing remains of loose stone walling uncovered during testing at Boyerstown 1. These features appear to form part of a partitioned enclosure, possibly a farmyard. (Courtesy of ACS Ltd.)
The low standing remains of loose stone walling uncovered during testing at Boyerstown 1. These features appear to form part of a partitioned enclosure, possibly a farmyard. (Courtesy of ACS Ltd.)
The low standing remains of loose stone walling uncovered during testing at Boyerstown 1. These features appear to form part of a partitioned enclosure, possibly a farmyard. (Courtesy of ACS Ltd.)

Metal Detection Report - Boyerstown 1

Topsoil Assessment

As part of archaeological investigations on the M3 Scheme, topsoil assessment was carried out on a number of sites which were thought to have high potential for containing artefacts in the topsoil over the archaeological remains.  A systematic metal detection survey was initially carried out at Boyerstown 1 prior to excavation and uncovered approximately 420 metal finds including iron nails, buttons, buckles and a highly decorated ring brooch.

Further metal detection combined with 100% topsoil sieving took place during excavation and recovered a staggering amount of artefacts including nails, brooches, coins, buckles and thousands of medieval pottery sherds associated with the settlement of the site.

Fig 1. Top Soil Sieving

Fig 1. Top Soil Sieving

Preliminary Excavation Results

The remains of two dry stone built structures and associated wall remains which were previously demolished and levelled were uncovered and excavated. The houses were built directly next to each other and are likely to have been contemporary. The houses were of dry stone construction and built directly onto the natural surface. No foundation trenches or slot trenches were used in their construction. Owing to the partial survival of the walls an entranceway to the structures was not directly obvious during excavation.

Two punch dressed corner stones were found in a stone rubble deposit associated with the structures. These would indicate the likelihood of well finished and dressed stonework on the site. It is likely that these were quarried and removed following the abandonment of the site.

No evidence of internal partitions were noted during excavation though the possibility of a wooden temporary partition should be noted. Each structure was found to have contained a hearth area towards its centre. This was indicated by the heavily scorched and charcoal rich deposits recovered. Numerous sherds of medieval pottery and metal artefacts including (iron nails, copper alloy pins and a highly decorated ring brooch) were recovered in this area during the excavation indicating a date of approximately 12th - 14th century for occupation of this part of the site. It is anticipated that more accurate dating will be provided by C14 analysis of remains associated with the structures. The area around the structures was characterised by a series of inter-connecting metalled surfaces which lay directly onto the natural ground and abutted the stone walls. These were in places cut with linear drains in order to drain water away from around the area of the houses.  The fragmented remains of a human skull were found in a well cut pit nearby to the house area.

The south eastern and eastern area of the site contained a significant amount of mostly parallel linear furrow features, and occasional pit features. The furrows were hand cut, single filled and contained medieval pottery.

The structural and metalled area remains were bounded by two large east west running ditches. A number of smaller drainage ditches were cut into the surrounding area and linked into the large east-west ditches. Most of the linear features excavated including the large ditches contained medieval pottery and so were likely to be contemporary with the structural elements of the site.

Beyond the area of the east-west drainage ditches towards the north east the site extended and was characterised by further metalled areas, ditches, pits and drains were recorded. While the features in these areas produced finds the artefact quantities decreased the further the distance away from the structural area outlined above. The remains of an extended articulated human burial were found in the base of a large ditch in this area. Stratified pottery found in the ditch suggests a medieval date for this burial though more specialised analysis should provide for a more accurate date. It is hoped that osteological analysis will also reveal the potential cause of death.

The artefact count from the excavation at Boyerstown 1 is approximately 11,000. This number is mostly made up of medieval pottery and also includes stones artefacts and metal finds. Given the quantity and quality of the pottery assemblage and the fact that a number of the metal finds included fine jewellery pieces (brooches, rings, pins), this would indicate that the occupiers of the site were quite wealthy in status. The likelihood is that Boyerstown constituted the holding of a free-tenant of either Ardbraccan or Navan (pers.comm Margaret Murphy). The site is likely to date from the 12th - 14th century based on the pottery remains and artefact types found.

Site Plan Image (ACS Ltd)

Site Plan Image (ACS Ltd)

Fig 2 Elevated view of structures and metalled yard area

Fig 2 Elevated view of structures and metalled yard area

Fig 3 Elevated view of Boyerstown 1 Site looking West (Hawkeye Ltd.)

Fig 3 Elevated view of Boyerstown 1 site looking West (Hawkeye Ltd.)

Artefacts

Fig. 4/5 Medieval coin (obverse / reverse) of Henry VI 1424-1427

Fig. 4/5 Medieval coin (obverse / reverse) of Henry VI 1424-1427  

Fig. 4/5 Medieval coin (obverse / reverse) of Henry VI 1424-1427

Fig 6 Conserved Silver Crucifix pendant (ACS Ltd.)

Fig. 6 Conserved Silver crucifix pendant (ACS Ltd)

Fig. 7 Decorated Mount

Fig. 7 Decorated Mount

Fig. 8 Copper Alloy Belt Buckle

Fig. 8 Copper Alloy Belt Buckle

Fig. 9 Copper Alloy Belt Buckle

Fig. 9 Copper Alloy Belt Buckle

Fig 10 Decorated Copper Alloy Strap buckle

Fig. 10 Decorated Copper Alloy strap buckle

Fig. 11 Decorated Ring Brooch dated to the 13th century. Inscription in Latin : IESVS NAZARENVS REX I €" translates as €Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews€ (ACS Ltd)

Fig. 11 Decorated Ring Brooch dated to the 13th century. Inscription in Latin : IESVS NAZARENVS REX I ? translates as ?Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews? (ACS Ltd)

Fig. 12 Reverse side of decorated ring brooch with bird figures displayed (ACS Ltd.)

Fig. 12 Reverse side of decorated ring brooch with bird figures displayed (ACS Ltd.)  

Fig 13 Penny of Edward III 1327-1335

Fig. 13 Penny of Edward III 1327-1335

Return to Section 3.

 

Final Report

Please click on the link to access the final archaeological report for Boyerstown 1

Final Report of Boyerstown 1 22.3MB