2006:1571 - Johnstown 1, Meath

This site was located within Contract 1 (Dunboyne to Dunshaughlin) of the proposed M3 Clonee to north of Kells motorway and was identified during advance testing by Eamon Cotter in March 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1253, 04E0476). Full resolution of the site between February and July 2006 revealed a number of pits, post-holes, stake-holes and curvilinear features, enclosed by a subcircular ditch of c. 50m diameter. At least three structures, either round houses or similar, two of which may have been enclosed, have been identified. Although some animal bone and a single piece of wood have been retrieved from the outer ditch, there is little artefactual material to date the site and also a dearth of charcoal deposits. No hearths have been identified and the deposits filling the post-holes and pits have been similarly lacking in charcoal. Finds include almost 200 individual pieces of flint or chert recovered from the upper levels and initial cleaning of the site (only two of which are from stratified contexts), and a pair of iron shears and a horseshoe suggesting late Iron Age/early medieval activity.
To the east of the settlement activity, there is evidence for pyrolithic activity in the form of a heavily truncated burnt mound (0.1m depth), a rectangular trough (0.1m depth), substantial post-holes and a large subrectangular pit (7m by 5m by 3m). At the eastern end of the pit there is evidence for an artificial step, with several stake-holes suggestive of a possible handrail or similar. Below this access was a metalled surface lining the base.
A pair of east–west linear slot-trenches, roughly parallel, were provisionally interpreted as house foundations. A c. 1m-wide gap in the north-west side of the trenches indicates a possible entrance. The presence of two flint hollow scrapers along with a number of other pieces of worked and struck flint within these trenches and associated pits suggests a Late Neolithic date for the possible house.