2001:1028 - M1 MOTORWAY, Platin to Balgeen, Meath

Monitoring of the topsoil-stripping for approximately 3km of the M1 motorway was undertaken from January to March 2001. During the course of the monitoring 25 possible sites were found and cordoned off. Two sites, Kilsharvan 9 and 10, have been discounted as probably natural features. Within another area, Kilsharvan 12, one possible zone of activity on the north side was ruled out, while a second to the south was an archaeological feature. These were subsequently resolved, though not all proved to have archaeological significance.

Platin 2 (see No. 1020, Excavations 2001): Two areas of burnt earth 2m apart; dimensions unknown; chainage 21+030.
Platin 3 (see No. 1021, Excavations 2001): Intermittent arc of charcoal-stained soil with burnt stone and flint; 7.5m in diameter; chainage 21+046.
Platin 4: Cluster of possible pits, possibly an arc or circle; 5–7m in diameter?; chainage 21+000.
Platin 1: Stone-lined well, resolved; 14m shaft; chainage 20+300.
Kilsharvan 1 (see No. 986, Excavations 2001): Area of burnt soil; 1m square; chainage 20+127.
Kilsharvan 2 (see No. 987, Excavations 2001): Small area of burnt soil, possible stone setting; 1m x 0.75m; chainage 20+085.
Kilsharvan 3 (see No. 988, Excavations 2001): Burnt soil and charcoal flanked by large stone; 0.6m x 0.5m; chainage 20+078.
Kilsharvan 4 (see No. 989, Excavations 2001): Charcoal-rich deposit, oval shape; 2m x 0.8 north-east/south-west; chainage 20+045.
Kilsharvan 5 (see No. 990, Excavations 2001): Complex: two oval deposits (charcoal-rich, 1m x 0.04m, 0.8m x 0.3m), charcoal-rich stony spread (1.8m x 0.8m), area with possible pits and post-pits (2m x 3m); chainage 20+035.
Kilsharvan 6 (see No. 991, Excavations 2001): Two oval deposits, 1m apart; each c. 1m x 0.4m; chainage 20+025.
Kilsharvan 7 (see No. 992, Excavations 2001): Burnt soil/charcoal and stones; 2m x 1.5m; chainage 20+012.
Kilsharvan 8 (see No. 993, Excavations 2001): Small pit? with charcoal and stone; 0.3m in diameter; chainage 19+670.
Kilsharvan 9 (see No. 994, Excavations 2001): Natural feature; chainage 19+670.
Kilsharvan 10 (see No. 995, Excavations 2001): Patch of charcoal and burnt soil, possibly natural; 0.2m in diameter; chainage 19+654.
Kilsharvan 11 (see No. 996, Excavations 2001): Natural cobbles; chainage 19+608.
Kilsharvan 12 (see No. 997, Excavations 2001): Small burnt spread cut by drain; 0.5m in diameter; chainage 19+546.
Kilsharvan 13 (see No. 998, Excavations 2001): Roughly circular feature, burnt soil, stones and charcoal; 1.1m in diameter; chainage 19+569.
Kilsharvan 14 (see No. 999, Excavations 2001): Area of cobbling, possibly with a burnt spread, though unclear now, could be natural; 2m; chainage 19+530.
Kilsharvan 15 (see No. 1000, Excavations 2001): Three pits, 1.5m apart, with stones and charcoal, possible fourth to west; each 0.5m in diameter; chainage 19+520.
Kilsharvan 16 (see No. 1001, Excavations 2001): Complex: area, contains four deposits of charcoal-rich soil, some burnt, with a lot of bone. These enclose possible post-pits (4) which are c. 1m in diameter. Copper-alloy C-sectioned strip with curved top and struck flint recovered; chainage 19+460.
Kilsharvan 17 (see No. 1002, Excavations 2001): Deposit of organic soil with burnt stone/charcoal, also possible pit/post-hole; 1m2–0.2m in diameter; chainage 19+425.
Kilsharvan 18 (see No. 1003, Excavations 2001): Deposit of charcoal-rich soil with two possible post-holes each 0.3m in diameter; c. 5m x 5m; chainage 19+160.
Kilsharvan 19 (see No. 1004, Excavations 2001): Area which produced flints, including scraper and possible pottery, no features; chainage 19+060.
Shallon 1 (see No. 1052, Excavations 2001): Two pockets of burnt soil with deposit of light brown soil around them; a bronze blob has been recovered from this; 6m x 5m; chainage 18+720.
Shallon 2 (see No. 1053, Excavations 2001): Burnt patch; 1.5m x 1m; chainage 18+690.
Shallon 3 (see No. 1054, Excavations 2001): Burnt soil, stone and charcoal, two flint scrapers from charcoal-rich soil; 2m x 3m; chainage 18+620.