2004:1161 - ARDBRACCAN (Testing Area 1), Meath

An assessment was carried out in advance of the planned M3 Clonee–North of Kells PPP scheme, Co. Meath, on the Navan–Kells and N52 Kells bypass (Contract 4) between July and October 2004. This section of the scheme is c. 11km long from the townland of Ardbraccan, north of Navan, to the townland of Cakestown Glebe, north of Kells. The EIS recommended testing any known or possible sites identified and Meath County Council further proposed to test the whole of the remainder of the route. For the purposes of testing, this section was divided into fourteen testing areas. The assessment methodology generally consisted of mechanically excavating 2mwide test-trenches along the centre-line and perpendicular to the centre-line to the edge of the land-take every 20m. The work was carried out on behalf of Meath County Council, the National Roads Design Office and the National Roads Authority.

Testing Area 1 is located in the townland of Ardbraccan, between Chainages 60000 and 60470. Within this area, 8324m2 of the total 37,147m2 available was test-trenched, providing assessment coverage of 22.4%. There were no known monuments within the vicinity of the testing area. Two sites were identified in this area and designated Ardbraccan 5 and 6.

Ardbraccan 5 consisted of two slot-trenches 55m apart. The first is subcircular in plan (Chainage 60250) and was recorded immediately south of a north-east/south-west modern field drain. The area was extended by machine by 3.8m to the east to define fully the extent of this possible structure and any associated archaeological remains. Two hand-dug sections, located at the west and south and measuring 0.2m and 0.4m in width respectively, were excavated across this feature. It was sealed by topsoil and cut into natural.

This feature, interpreted as a possible Bronze Age temporary hut site, measured 3m north-south by 3.5m, with the slot-trench measuring 0.25–0.4m in width. Testing showed it to have a sharp break of slope at the top, with sides varying from steep to gently sloping on to a generally flat but slightly uneven base. It was filled with a friable mid-brown silty clay with occasional small stones evenly distributed. A possible entrance was located in the south-east side of the feature and measured 1.5m in length. It was represented by a break in the slot-trench, but there was no evidence for an entrance surface in this area.

A possible post-hole located 0.1m east of the possible structure measured 0.2m in diameter and a small hand-dug section showed it to be 0.1m deep, with a sharp break of slope at the top with near vertical sides and a sharp break at the bottom with a flat base. It was filled with a loose to friable mid-brown silty clay, with occasional small stones evenly distributed.

No finds were recovered from either of the hand-dug sections or from the topsoil in this area. The site was located on a relatively low-lying flat area of dry ground.

The second slot-trench was recorded 55m to the north. It consisted of a subrectangular possible structure (Chainage 60300) with a possible entrance to the north. It was cut into natural and sealed by topsoil. The area was extended by machine to the east to define fully the extent of this possible structure and any associated archaeological remains; no further features were revealed.

The feature measured 3.3m north-south by 2.1m and consisted of a non-enclosed slot-trench 0.2m wide and open to the north. It had gently rounded corners and a sharp break of slope at the top with almost vertical smooth sides giving on to a gently rounded base. The slot-trench was 0.2m wide and 0.18–0.2m deep, with an opening measuring 1.1m. It had a single fill of loose to friable mid-brown silty clay, with occasional small stones evenly distributed. No finds were recovered from the hand-dug section or from the topsoil in this area.

The second slot-trench is also interpreted as a possible Bronze Age temporary hut site, similar to the first, although it is noted that this feature is subrectangular in plan rather than subcircular and has a possible entrance in the north and not in the south-east.

Ardbraccan 6 (Chainage 60040) consisted of an irregular-shaped burnt spread measuring 13m east-west by 12.5m and 0.1–0.25m deep. It extended beyond the trench in an eastward direction, but it was not possible to excavate another trench in this area, as it was located immediately west of a north-south fence-line. It is estimated that the spread would not extend east beyond the trench for any more than c. 3m, giving it an estimated overall length of c. 16m east-west. There was no above-ground evidence for the presence of this feature, which it is suggested had been levelled in the recent past as a result of ploughing.

The burnt spread consisted of a loose dark-brown/black sandy clay, with frequent burnt and broken stone and charcoal inclusions all evenly distributed. It was located on gently sloping ground immediately west of a marshy area defined by the north-south channelled stream/drain. Two hand-dug sections, oriented north-south and east-west, were excavated in the middle and north-east of the feature to help define its extent and character. No artefacts were recovered from either of the sections.

Ardbraccan 6 is interpreted as the ploughed-out remains of a probably Bronze Age burnt spread, ideally situated on slightly sloping ground on the interface with a noticeably wetter area. Two hand-dug sections were excavated, but there was no evidence for a trough. Due to the presence of the heat-shattered stone, however, it is considered likely that the presence of at least one such trough may survive in the immediate landscape.

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