2001:1001 - KILSHARVAN 16, Kilsharvan, Meath

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Meath Site name: KILSHARVAN 16, Kilsharvan

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 01E0191

Author: Ian Russell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.

Site type: Enclosure

Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)

ITM: E 708997m, N 770559m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.673397, -6.350355

The site was exposed at chainage 19400, at the north-eastern edge of the proposed motorway in the townland of Kilsharvan, during monitoring of topsoil-stripping carried out during groundworks associated with the construction of Contract 7 of the Northern Motorway Project, and was identified as an archaeological complex. A copper-alloy C-sectioned strip and a struck flint were recovered during the monitoring.

An oval enclosure was excavated, measuring 32.8m in diameter. Over 65% of the enclosure was exposed within the proposed motorway corridor; the remainder lay between the motorway and the Crufty Road to the north-east. No entrance was exposed, but this is likely to remain in the unexcavated portion of the site to the south-east. A possible structure was exposed in the centre of the enclosure and was defined by a number of pits, post-holes, stake-holes and a possible stone surface. A large amount of coarseware prehistoric pottery and a horn punch were recovered from the enclosure ditch. A radiocarbon determination of 2770 ± 40 BP (1000–820 cal. BC) was obtained from the enclosure ditch, which dates it to the late Bronze Age, and a second date of 2460 ± 70 BP (800–390 cal. BC) was obtained from the central area within the enclosure, placing it in the late Bronze Age–early Iron Age.

21 Boyne Business Park, Drogheda, Co. Louth