County: Meath Site name: ROESTOWN 3, ROESTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A008/003
Author: Lydia Cagney, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda.
Site type: Possible structure
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 695670m, N 753986m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.527116, -6.557067
Excavation of Roestown 3, situated on a section of the planned M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway scheme, Co. Meath, was undertaken on behalf of Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority. This site was one of the areas identified during the testing programme by Jonathan Dempsey of the Contract 2 (Dunshaughlin to Navan) stretch of motorway between April and May 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1336, 04E0415). The excavation was carried out in July and August 2005.
A number of features identified as the possible foundation remains of a structure were fully exposed, cleaned and partially excavated. The extant remains revealed an east–west foundation trench filled with rubble, stone and occasional red-brick fragments. A culverted drain ran parallel to this foundation trench. Both of these features measured 14.6m in length. An additional French drain ran perpendicular to the above features and this extended for 6.3m within the site limit; both drains were similar in construction and considered to be contemporary, and the foundation trench probably represented the remains of a field wall.
