County: Meath Site name: POTTLEBANE
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 04E1058
Author: Gill Mc Loughlin, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd.
Site type: Burnt mound, Pit and Hearth
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 667104m, N 778605m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.752749, -6.982504
Testing was carried out in advance of the planned M3 Clonee–North of Kells road scheme, Co. Meath, on the Kells–North of Kells section (Contract 5) between July and December 2004. This section of the scheme is 10.2km long from Calliaghstown, south-west of Kells, to Derver, north-west of Kells. The testing methodology consisted of a centre-line trench and offsets every 20m. Anomalies identified in the geophysical survey were also tested. The work was carried out on behalf of Meath County Council, National Roads Development Office and the National Roads Authority.
Testing Area 7 is located in the townland of Pottlebane, between Chainages 87600 and 88150, and 4350m2 of the total 32,331m2 within this area was tested, providing a testing coverage of 13.5%. Testing took place between 29 July and 4 August 2004.
Archaeological features uncovered include two spreads of burnt-mound material and a pit containing a sherd of prehistoric pottery. Also uncovered was a hearth and six associated possible post-holes, a large pit with burning at the base and a possible cremation pit. These features are spread over c. 500m and, although most did not produce any datable material, it is possible that they are associated and that they may be representative of settlement activity in the Bronze Age.
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