2004:1311 - PHOENIXTOWN (Testing Area 3), 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.

Test-trenching was carried out within 9794m2 of the total 88,815m2 of this area, providing a testing coverage of 11.03%. This testing area is located in the townland of Phoenixtown, between Chainage 62500 and 63700.

The remains of two possible burnt mounds/fulachta fiadh were uncovered in Plot 3016, and a small pit filled with burnt-stone material and a series of post-holes was also located nearby (Phoenixtown 1).

Another burnt mound/fulacht fiadh was uncovered in Plot 3015, measuring 11m by 12.5m and extending beyond the edge of the road-take (Phoenixtown 6).

Two archaeological features were identified in the northern field of Plot 3009. Phoenixtown 5 was the truncated remains of a small rectangular structure and a semicircular pit filled with heat-shattered stone material.

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