County: Meath Site name: WILLIAMSTOWN OR BAWN (2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A023/006, E3098
Author: Kevin Martin, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Burnt mound
Period/Dating: Bronze Age (2200 BC-801 BC)
ITM: E 686449m, N 763777m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.616677, -6.693389
This site was located within Contract 3 (Navan bypass) of the proposed M3 Clonee to north of Kells motorway and was identified during advance testing by Aidan O’Connell in April 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1359, 04E0576). Full resolution between March and May 2006 revealed a rectangular, east–west trough (2.6m by 1.4m by 0.46m) containing charcoal inclusions and heat-reddened stones with a compact clay base, which may represent a water-boiling trough. A large subrectangular pit (c. 5.5m by 6m by 1.5m) with seventeen fills was also revealed. This pit contained large quantities of organic material including roots, wood, nut shells, beetle remains, charcoal, animal bone and cremated bone. Several other features containing burnt-mound material were also identified, as were a number of linear features, including furrows and drains. Two radiocarbon dates for the site have so far been returned (923–806 BC and 1378–1117 BC), placing some activity within Williamstown or Bawn 2 firmly in the Bronze Age.
21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda
