County: Meath Site name: PIERCETOWN (Testing Area 8)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E0469
Author: Robert O'Hara, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 691935m, N 753328m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.521870, -6.613570
An assessment of M3 Contract 1 (Clonee–Dunshaughlin), Testing Area 8, along the proposed route of the M3 motorway at the proposed Black Bull roundabout (Chainage 4400–5050) was requested by Meath County Council. Located in the townland of Piercetown, it comprised eight fields on both sides of the existing N3 at the Trim road/Ratoath road junction. A geophysical survey suggested that the area was of limited archaeological potential.
A total of 55 test-trenches were excavated through the area, with a combined length of 5149m (resulting in a total excavated area of 11,070m2). The assessment determined that the anomalies recorded in the geophysical survey were natural occurrences and that the overall area was void of archaeological remains.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
