2004:1271 - KILMAINHAM/ GARDENRATH/TOWNPARKS (Testing Area 11), 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 2m-wide 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 11 is located in the townlands of Kilmainham, Gardenrath and Townparks between Chainage 68600 and 70150; 11,459m2 of the total 91,725m2 within this area was test-trenched, providing a testing coverage of 12.5%.

Four sites were identified in Testing Area 11. These were designated Gardenrath 1, Gardenrath 2, Townparks 1 and Townparks 2.

Gardenrath 1 was a possible stone-lined cist. The structure was an arrangement of several upright stones forming a subrectangular space (c. 0.5m by 0.4m). It was set into a spread of dark-brown silt (1m by 0.5m), which contained charcoal and burnt clay. To the south of the possible cist was an area of flat sub- angular stones (c. 0.25m by 0.3m), which appeared to be placed over an area of burnt clay with charcoal staining (c. 1m by 0.4m). Several of the stones appeared to be fire-cracked. Immediately to the west was a further subcircular area of burnt clay (0.25m by 0.25m), which seemed to be enclosed by medium-large sized stones surrounded by an ashy spread, possibly forming the truncated remains of a hearth. An area totalling 7m by 5m was extended over the area, but nothing else of archaeological potential was recorded.

Gardenrath 2 consisted of six truncated postholes, two possible foundation gullies and an area of cobbling, possibly indicating a structure. Prehistoric pottery was recovered from the possible bedding trenches. Flecks of burnt bone were also noted during the clean-back of the site. One struck flint item was also recorded from the site.

Townparks 1 was a substantial burnt spread, covering an area c. 34m by 15m and extending outside the fence line to the south-west. It consisted of heat-shattered stone that appeared to be compressed flat into the soft marl-like geology. As a consequence, the spread of material was never more than 0.1m in depth.

Townparks 2 consisted of two pits c. 50m apart. One was kidney-shaped, measuring 2.5m by 1m, and c. 0.2m deep. It contained a charcoal-rich silty fill with mixed stones. The base of the pit was heat-affected and was sealed by a lens of charcoal. It would seem to have been abandoned and silted up before being sealed by the ploughsoil. A post-hole filled with packing stones mixed with dark-brown silty clay and charcoal was located to the west. The pit is probably the remains of a single-use cooking pit. The second was a small pit filled with heat-shattered stone. It was oval in plan and measured 1m by 0.9m with a depth of 0.12m. There was no indication for in situ burning; however, the pit may be the remains of a single-use cooking pit.

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