County: Meath Site name: KILMESSAN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0689
Author: Sheelagh Conran, CRDS Ltd.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 688002m, N 757261m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.557882, -6.671767
Excavation was undertaken, on behalf of Meath County Council, of sites uncovered during testing of the route of a proposed pipe trench and during monitoring of the pipe laying. The works were part of the Dunshaughlin to Castletown Tara sewerage scheme. Initial testing and monitoring was carried out by Red Tobin (Excavations 2004, No. 1236, 04E1499).
The site consisted of a small burnt mound that was partially exposed and excavated. It was situated on the route of the main pipeline, in Area C. The excavation recorded approximately one-third of a burnt mound, probably Bronze Age in date; the remaining two-thirds of the burnt mound is preserved in situ outside the pipeline wayleave. The mound was an irregular spread orientated north–south comprising frequent stones and charcoal in a black silty clay. It measured 7.93 by 4m within the limit of excavation. This was the upper level in what would have been quite a substantial burnt mound located on the bank of the River Skane in an optimum landscape for such activity, and, although no trough was uncovered in the portion excavated, it is probable that a trough or troughs remain preserved in situ, with the remainder of the mound.
It was possible to distinguish three phases of burnt-mound activity. The occurrence of an organic peat layer between these phases of activity would suggest that the site was in use over a substantial length of time.
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