Moated site, Thomastown, Co. Meath
In the countryside near Thomastown, County Meath, a curious rectangular earthwork catches the eye on satellite imagery.
Moated site, Thomastown, Co. Meath
This grass-covered enclosure stretches approximately 55 metres from north-northeast to south-southwest and varies between 45 and 55 metres from west-northwest to east-southeast. What makes it particularly intriguing are the distinctive moat-like features, roughly 5 to 7 metres wide, that define three of its sides; only the southeastern edge lacks this defensive characteristic.
The site first came to archaeological attention thanks to Jean Charles Caillere, who spotted its distinctive outline. Enhanced satellite imagery from Google Earth, particularly clear in photos from 2002, 2017, and 2020, reveals the crisp definition of these ancient boundaries against the relatively flat landscape. The moated enclosure represents a type of medieval defensive structure once common across Ireland, though many have since been lost to agricultural development or natural erosion.
Whilst its exact historical purpose remains somewhat mysterious, moated sites like this one typically date to the Anglo-Norman period and served various functions; from fortified farmsteads to administrative centres. The Thomastown example, documented and compiled by researcher Michael Moore in June 2020, stands as a well-preserved reminder of medieval settlement patterns in Meath, visible centuries later through the modern lens of satellite technology.





