EMAP_Progress_Reports_2009_2.pdf - The Heritage Council

Meath
Roestown 2, Co. Meath
Early Medieval Settlement Enclosure Complex
Grid reference: N95795380 (295792/253807)
SMR No: N/A
Excavation Licence No: A008/002
Excavation Duration/Year: September 2005 – March 2007
Site director: R. O’Hara (ACS Ltd.)
Roestown 2, excavated in advance of the M3 road-scheme, was a large multi-phase enclosed
early medieval settlement and associated agricultural complex that was utilised from
potentially the mid-sixth century through to the thirteenth century. The site, divided into
Areas A and B, was dissected by the current N3 (Fig. 248). The former – to the east of Area B
– included an animal enclosure and field systems and the latter comprised the settlement and
associated field enclosures. Roestown was situated on the edge of a slight northeast–
southwest terrace – at 106m OD – in undulating countryside. Redbog – a reclaimed marsh
area – was located to the east so much of the surrounding land would have been
waterlogged in antiquity.
The primary enclosure (Area B) was D-shaped and was constructed between A.D. 533 and
651 (see below for radiocarbon dates). The enclosing ditch was re-cut on two further
occasions between the eighth and tenth centuries. The initial site measured 76m by 53m and
its dimensions did not alter radically during later phases. The ditch varied between U- and V-
shape in profile and was generally 1.3m deep. The entrance to the enclosure occurred at the
northeast. The initial entrance required a bridge or other form of access as the primary ditch
was uninterrupted around the site. Following this, in Phase II, a causeway was created at the
entrance point.
A number of internal ditches were recorded for Phases II and III within Enclosure 1. These
were absent during the primary phase. One of the earliest ditches cut a small structure
associated with E ware. Cereal-drying kilns and curvilinear gullies – possible small shelters or
structures – were located in the southern partition of the enclosure. This area was potentially
utilised for cereal processing. A number of radiating ditches were connected to the outer
enclosure to the south and it is likely they were fields associated with cereal growing. The
western part of the enclosure was also partitioned by a series of ditches but their function is
unclear.
A dry-stone-built souterrain was situated at the centre of the D-shaped enclosure and was
not stratigraphically related to earlier features. The souterrain contained three beehive
chambers that were connected by three short passages. Other aspects of the souterrain
included pits within each chamber, a ramped entrance, a boxed cupboard, an air vent and a
trapdoor feature.
A large number of personal dress items were associated with the settlement in Area B
including glass and stone beads, lignite bracelets, bone pins, copper alloy and iron ringed
pins, bone comb fragments and a belt buckle.
Evidence for ironworking was minimal and consisted of slag residues and furnace bottoms.
Non-ferrous metalworking – usually associated with high-status sites – was indicated by the
presence of crucible fragments, bone motif pieces, a stone ingot mould and some droplets of
copper alloy. Glass working was also practised because some of the crucible fragments
contained glazed residues. A number of artefacts were recovered that demonstrated smallscale
textile production (spindle whorls, iron and copper alloy needles), bone-working
(worked bone) and carpentry (an iron awl).
A series of small irregular fields were located to the east of the D-shaped enclosure in Area A.
The largest of these, from Phase I, measured 25m by 25m. A number of artefacts were
associated with the Phase I fields including bone pins and combs, an iron knife and sherds of
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