EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Meath
Castlefarm, Co. Meath
Early Medieval Settlement-Cemetery
Grid reference: O0039416 (300394/241605)
SMR: N/A
Excavation Licence No: A017/001
Excavation Duration/Year: November 2005 – September 2006
Site director: A. O’Connell (ACS Ltd.)
Castlefarm – discovered in advance of the M3 road-scheme – was a multi-phase settlementcemetery
site that was dated between the fifth and thirteenth centuries. Earlier prehistoric
activity was also represented by the Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age in the form of lithic
objects, a possible burnt mound and a ring-ditch respectively. The site was located a short
distance southwest of Dunboyne town on a slightly elevated ridge – at 73m OD – in an area
of gently undulating pastureland and was bounded to the north by the River Tolka.
Approximately half of the site was excavated.
The primary enclosure at Castlefarm, constructed sometime between the mid-fifth and midseventh
centuries (see below for radiocarbon dates), was D-shaped and had dimensions of
approximately 90m by 70m (Fig. 231). The entrance was at the southwest and consisted of
an un-dug causeway. Artefacts from the ditch in this phase included a bone knife handle with
ring and dot decoration, iron knife blades and copper-alloy ringed pins. Large quantities of
animal bone were also associated with this phase.
At least seven burials – extended with heads to the west – were associated with Castlefarm’s
initial early medieval phase. They were located outside the enclosure in proximity to the
causewayed entrance and both adults and children (males and female) were represented in
the small group. A well – also external to the enclosure – was associated with this phase.
The primary enclosing ditch was re-cut on a number of occasions between the seventh and
eighth centuries. Artefacts included dress items such as ringed pins, bone pins and lignite
bracelets. Functional items included worked bone and antler as well as a variety of iron
knives.
The site was considerably enlarged between A.D. 771 and 975 by the construction of an
outer enclosure. The D-shaped enclosure was re-cut on its eastern side and the site was
expanded to the southwest, west and north. A number of wells were located at the north and
west. The new enclosure had dimensions of 110m by 90m. The finds assemblage was
comparable to earlier phases and included a variety of dress and functional artefacts. An
enclosure annex was constructed at the south of the site and had dimensions of 30m by 20–
25m.
The final early medieval modifications to the enclosure occurred between the late eighth and
early eleventh centuries. This phase involved a re-cut to the outer enclosure ditch and the
incorporation of the enclosure annex. Artefacts included omega pins and penannular
brooches and substantial quantities of animal bone were present in the ditch-fills. The latter
was present in large quantities throughout the early medieval phases.
Later medieval activity was evident through a re-cut of the outer enclosure ditch and smallscale
industrial activity within the inner and outer enclosure ditches. Material culture – in the
form of artefacts and animal bone – was not present in large quantities during this phase.
Apart from deep features such as the wells very little survived internally within the enclosures
at Castlefarm. Centuries of agricultural activity have erased any domestic features.
Eight large unlined wells – ranging in depth between 1.6–2.5m – were discovered. It is
possible that these were related to textile production because numerous sewing needles,
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