County: Meath Site name: Drumbaragh 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A030/011; E3173
Author: Derek Gallagher and Gearóid Kelleher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Site type: Burnt-mound activity
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 670058m, N 775082m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.720705, -6.938530
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. 1223, 04E1055). Excavation took place from 13 October 2006 to 17 January 2007. Along the northern border of the site was an east–west stream which cut the road-take and continued in a south-westerly direction. The stream pools and forms a small pond in the northern part of the site, where it turns in a south-west direction.
To the northern end of the site was a large burnt-stone spread (19.2m north-west/south-east by 18.5m by 0.6m maximum depth). A rectangular trough was located and a piece of burnt wood, possibly a piece of plank, was recovered. To the north-west was an irregular-shaped spread of burnt-mound material (10.25m north-west/south-east by 5.35m by 0.13m depth). In the western corner of the site there were two pits, two spreads and three linear features all containing heat-shattered stone and charcoal; these were cut by linear agricultural activity. There was no evidence of a trough or a hearth.
During the course of the excavation, two burnt-stone spreads were noted in the ploughed field adjacent to Drumbaragh 3 to the east. Their location was plotted and it is probable that they were contemporary with Drumbaragh 3 and that they marked the location of a small river or stream that ran through this area.
