2007:1316 - Gardenrath 2, Meath

This site was located within Contract 4 (Navan–Kells and Kells bypass) of the M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway scheme and was identified during testing carried out by Shane Delaney (IAC Ltd) in 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1271, 04E0916). It was excavated between 1 November and 12 December 2006. The main focus of Gardenrath 2 was a probable prehistoric square structure made up of a slot-trench, a number of post-holes and a possible floor surface (c. 4m wide) with a central hearth. There appeared to have been at least two separate periods of occupation, and possibly a third. Some Neolithic pottery was recovered from the slot-trench and flint scrapers and debitage were recovered from the general vicinity of the structure. A large pit was situated immediately to the north of the structure and flint debitage was also recovered from this. In the northern part of the site was a stone surface (c. 2m wide by 3m long) with a number of associated post-holes, but these did not form any coherent pattern and no finds were recovered from this area.
Other features on this site included an east–west metalled stone trackway that crossed the site for c. 15m. It was generally 2m wide and depressions in the stones caused by wheel ruts could be seen. Although no finds were recovered from this trackway, it is considered medieval in date.
There were also a couple of isolated pits in the southern part of the site, one of which had three episodes of in situ burning and contained a small amount of slag.
A post-medieval field boundary ditch ran north–south across the site.
Test-pits
Test-pitting was undertaken at Gardenrath 2 in October 2006 (A029–0244). Six test-pits were excavated and the soil was sieved. The finds are listed in Table 2.
This work was funded by Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority.

Editor’s note: Although excavated during 2006, the report on this site arrived too late for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.