By ticking "I agree" below you are agreeing to the use of cookies and to the terms and conditions of use as outlined above. These are also available on the End User Agreement page. For more information see our Privacy Policy.
Downloaded assets must be used in accordance with the DRI End User Terms and Conditions
Total number of assets (1)
This browser does not support viewing this file type. Please download the asset to view.
This is a final report of an archaeological excavation at Donore 1 01E0398 which was located on the route of the M1 Northern Motorway Gormanston – Monasterboice (Drogheda Bypass), Platin to Oldbridge, Chainage 21600–24800, Contract 7, County Meath. The excavation was carried out by Emmet Stafford of Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd on behalf of Meath County Council. The work was carried out under licence No. 01E0398 which was received from the DoEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The fieldwork took place between 13 to 20 April 2001. Donore 1 was identified during monitoring of topsoil stripping as a burnt mound / fulacht fiadh-type of spread measuring 3.5m by 2m. An area measuring c. 23m x 17m (390m²) was cleaned back by hand and three further pits were identified. One phase of archaeological activity at the site was dated to the beginning of the early Bronze Age (2470–2280 BC) and comprised two pits filled with charcoal rich soil and burnt stones possibly related to burnt mound activity. In addition three pits are undated and the site was truncated by two modern field drains. These early Bronze Age pits add to the picture of continuity of activity in the surrounding area through much of prehistory and into the early medieval period. The immediate area surrounding Donore 1 contained a large number of sites, most of which were dated to the Bronze Age, and all phases of the Bronze Age were represented indicating that this landscape attracted settlement for prolonged periods throughout the Bronze Age. It is probable that the proximity of the River Boyne may have been a big attraction of this location which resulted in it being revisited repeatedly through time.