County: Meath Site name: Derver 5
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A030/021; E3183
Author: Derek Gallagher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda.
Site type: Pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 666744m, N 779330m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.759308, -6.987804
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 2005 (Excavations 2004, No. 1219, 04E1060) and was excavated in April 2007. Four dispersed pits with burnt-stone fills were recorded.
The presence of charcoal-rich deposits and heat-affected stones may indicate burnt-mound-type activity. It is probable that this site is related to the structures, pits and hearths discovered on sites also in the vicinity of the River Blackwater (Derver 4, A030/022, No. 1297 above, and Derver 6, A030/020, No. 1299 below) and the adjacent townland of Pottlebane (Pottlebane 1, A030/019, and 2, A030/018, Nos 1375–6 below), which appear to reflect temporary campsites or cooking areas near a source of fresh water.
