County: Meath Site name: KNOCKS/READSLAND (Testing Area 16)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0478
Author: Tara O'Neill, Archaeological Consultancy Services
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 695432m, N 751509m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.504911, -6.561408
An assessment was carried out in advance of the planned M3 Clonee–North of Kells PPP scheme, Co. Meath, on the Clonee–Dunshaughlin section (Contract 1) between February and June 2004. This section of the scheme consists of c. 14.2km of motorway and a further c. 14km of link roads and additional side roads. 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 26 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.
Thirty-nine test-trenches were excavated in Testing Area 16. Although it was a large site, access was only permitted into three fields. Consequently, only a small fraction of this site was assessed. One area of archaeological significance was identified that will be impacted upon by the proposed development. This site, a fulacht fiadh, is located within Field 2 of Plot 139. The burnt mound measured 17m by 30m. It has been designated Knocks 1. A small circular earthwork was identified during a desk-based study and field survey carried out by Valerie J. Keeley Ltd prior to the assessment phase. This corresponded with the fulacht fiadh at Knocks 1.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
