County: Meath Site name: Derver 6
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A030/020; E3182
Author: Derek Gallagher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda.
Site type: Pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 666842m, N 779240m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.758487, -6.986338
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. The site was situated immediately beside the River Blackwater and consisted of one burnt-stone pit, part of which was outside the road-take. One other feature investigated was non-archaeological in nature.
It is possible that this site is related to the pits and possible hearths discovered in the vicinity (Derver 1, A030/025, 2, A030/024, 3, A030/023, Nos 1294–6 above, and Derver 5, A030/021, No. 1298 above) 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.
