EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Meath
Colp West, Co. Meath
Early Medieval Enclosed Cemetery
Grid reference: O12237467 (312239/274679)
SMR No: ME021-011
Excavation Licence No: N/A
Excavation Duration/Year: N/A
Site director: M. Gowen (Margaret Gowen and Co. Ltd.)
Excavation at Colp West in advance of the north eastern gas pipeline, revealed a cemetery
that was demarcated by northern and southern ditches (Fig. 234). Only portions of the
cemetery and ditches were excavated within the pipe corridor. Evidence for nearby
settlement was identified within the fills of the southern ditch. The site was situated on a
gentle north-facing slope at the summit – 30m OD – of a long steep rise south of the River
Boyne. An early medieval enclosure complex was excavated nearby in the same townland to
the northeast (Clarke and Murphy 2001).
The first phase of archaeological activity was represented by a penannular enclosure and
some possible post-holes in the south-eastern part of the larger enclosure. The former
measured 15m in diameter and enclosed some unlined and slab-lined graves. Some later
burials extended out over the silted-up ditch. Several sherds of Late Roman Amphora (LRA)
and E ware, iron nails and a piece of slag were recovered from the ditch’s fill.
Two sections of enclosure ditches, to the north and south of the cemetery, were located at a
maximum distance of 37m apart internally. The relationship between the two ditches was
unclear because their deposits were notably different. The former had a homogenous fill
whereas the southern ditch contained well defined layers of humic, dumped soils and silty
clays which yielded occupational evidence. Sherds of LRA and E ware, a possible bronze ring,
iron slag and large quantities of animal bone were retrieved from the southern ditch. Just one
sherd of E ware was recovered from the northern enclosure ditch.
Two further ditches, lying 4m-5m apart, were also revealed and were positioned 20m to the
north and south of the southern and northern enclosure ditches. These formed a multivallate
enclosure in plan and are likely to represent enclosure activity across many centuries.
Over one hundred burials were exposed within the cemetery (between the northern and
southern enclosure ditches). They were extended and aligned west-east. The cemetery was
used across many centuries because numerous burials were placed on top, cut, disturbed, or
completely displaced earlier burials and only a portion of this large burial ground was
excavated. The majority of graves were simple unlined pits but fourteen stone-lined examples
were evident. The vast majority of those interred were adults and no children were buried in
the excavated section of the cemetery.
A small fragment of a double-sided decorated bone comb and half a decorated blue glass
bead were recovered from the grave fills close to the penannular enclosure. Sherds of LRA
and E ware were also present in areas associated with burial activity, and these demonstrate
that the cemetery was in use between at least the mid-fifth and seventh centuries.
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