Archaeological excavation report, 01E0044 Platin Fort Report on resolution of Site, County Meath

An archaeological excavation of the western half of recored monument Platin Fort, Co. Meath (ME 20:14) was carried out in advance of the construction of the proposed Northern Motorway (Contract 7) on behalf of Meath County Council. Though soil depth was found to be extremely shallow across the western area of the site the excavation revealed the presence of an unprotected child burial datable to the period late 1st to late 3rd century AD within the central section of the western end of the limestone promontory. A complete absence of enclosing earthworks was found surrounding the western side of the summit, due to the extensive local quarrying of the ridge on both the north and south faces. Most features revealed upon the western summit were of natural origin, reflecting natural sinkholes, rock fissures and quarry holes, however one pit from the SW corner returned and Early/Middle Neolithic date (early-mid 3rd millennium BC). Finds from the excavation included an Early/Middle Neolithic date (early-mid 3rd millennium BC). Finds from the excavation included limited fragments of prehistoric pottery, flint tools and waste fragments, and significantly and 8th-10th Century AD ring pin which was recovered from a quarry fissure on the northern side of the fort. Extensive test trenches excavated north and south of the fort revealed remains of at least two corn-drying kilns, both north of the fort, one of which returned an 11th Century AD date.