County: Meath Site name: LESHAMSTOWN (Testing Area 18)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0480
Author: Tara O'Neill, Archaeological Consultancy Services
Site type: Fulacht fia, Pit and Burnt spread
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 695251m, N 751566m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.505456, -6.564118
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-five test-trenches were excavated in Testing Area 18. Two areas of possible archaeological significance were identified that will be impacted upon by the proposed development. One site, a fulacht fiadh, is located within Field 1 (designated Leshamstown 1). The burnt mound measured 8m by 9m. A small circular earthwork was identified during a desk-based study and field survey carried out by Valerie J. Keeley Ltd prior to the current phase. This corresponded with the location of Leshamstown 1. The second site is represented by a number of pits and spreads and is located within Field 2 (designated Leshamstown 2).
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
