2007:1334 - Kilmainham 1A, 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 Jo Ronayne (IAC Ltd) in 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1270, 04E0917). It was excavated between 1 February and 30 March 2007 and was divided into Areas 1–4. Activity was concentrated in Areas 1, 3 and 4.
Area 1
This was located at the south-east end of the site and consisted of three small ditches. Two of these crossed the corner of the site at its south-east end and are likely to be drainage features of unknown date; no finds were recovered. The third ditch ran north-east/south-west across the south-east end of the site, and truncated the other two ditches. Some fragments of medieval pottery were recovered from its fill, suggesting a medieval date for it, and possibly for the other two also, although this is not certain. This ditch appeared to be the continuation of a ditch excavated on Kilmainham 1C (see No. 1336 below, A029/022) towards the east. This ditch is therefore quite long and this would suggest it was a boundary of some sort, as opposed to being a drainage ditch.
Substantial areas of possible metalling were also noted; these areas were in no discernible pattern and it remains a possibility that they are non-archaeological.
Area 2
Area 2 was located on the high ground, north of the structures in Area 3, and contained a curvilinear feature (0.5m wide and on average 0.4m deep) with a V-shaped profile running across this high area in an irregular manner. The only find recovered from it was a single piece of flint debitage. Post-excavation analysis is ongoing but, if prehistoric, it could represent an early field boundary.
Area 3
This area of activity comprised a series of prehistoric (probably Neolithic) features including two probable structures. The circular post-built structure (c. 8.5m diameter) was defined by ten post-holes with a south-eastern entrance evidenced by two large pits. Within this arrangement of posts were a large number of stake-holes and inside the entrance was a shallow metalled pit or hollow, from which a saddle quern fragment was recovered. Less than 15m to the south-west was a second, rectangular, structure defined by a slightly imperfect rectangular arrangement of post-holes, and also a probable floor deposit. Many artefacts were recovered from this structure, including significant numbers of sherds of plain prehistoric pottery, some lithics including a quartz crystal scraper, and two stone axes, one of which was a near complete polished axe recovered from the base of a post-hole.
As well as the two structures several other pits were excavated in Area 3, including a figure-of-eight cereal-drying kiln. Many of these pits were relatively nondescript, although they frequently contained pottery sherds and may well represent domestic waste pits.
Area 4
This area was located at the south-west end of the site and comprised a number of pits and a linear feature found in the environs of a limestone outcrop. While many of the features were small or partial in nature with little evidence as to their function, two of the features excavated were certainly cremation pits, and it is likely that another two represent badly truncated cremation pits. The two definite examples produced no finds but had significant quantities of charcoal and burnt human bone. It is likely that the environs of the outcrop once contained more cremations, but that these had been destroyed by 19th-century quarrying which disturbed the outcrop to a large extent. Radiocarbon dating will help to establish whether or not these cremations were contemporary with the structures in Area 3.
Test-pits
In advance of mechanical topsoil removal test-pitting was undertaken at Kilmainham 1A in September 2006. Fourteen test-pits were excavated and the soil was sieved. Apart from one small nail in Test-pit 2, and two small nails in Test-pit 3, there were no other finds.
This work was funded by Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority.