County: Meath Site name: Derver 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A030/023; E3185
Author: Stuart Rathbone, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda.
Site type: Possible prehistoric activity
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 666487m, N 779994m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.765306, -6.991557
This site, located within Contract 5 (Kells–North of Kells) of the proposed M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway, was identified during testing by David Bayley of IAC in 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1219, 04E1060) and was excavated in January 2007. A single isolated small shallow charcoal-rich pit with in situ burning (1.46m by 1.04m by 0.08m) was located on an exposed hillside.
It is possible that the feature represents part of the remains of a small campsite of prehistoric date. The site was situated in an unusual position on the steeply sloping sides of the Blackwater Valley, in a very exposed location. Other nearby sites in Derver townland (Derver 1, A030/025 and 2, A030/024, Nos 1294–5 above) and the adjacent townland of Pottlebane (Pottlebane 1, A030/019, and 2, A030/018, Nos 1375–6 below) also appear to reflect temporary campsites or cooking areas, without any obvious evidence of permanent settlement. A round house, potentially Bronze Age in date, was discovered at Derver 4 (A030/022; see No. 1297 below) on the flood-plain very close to the River Blackwater’s current location and traces of burnt-mound activity were found nearby.
