County: Meath Site name: Kilmainham 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A029/024; E3144
Author: Yvonne Whitty, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Prehistoric post circle and associated features
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 676034m, N 774724m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.716653, -6.848082
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 12 February and 30 March 2007 and contained three areas of archaeological activity.
Area A consisted of a series of pits which possibly formed a subrectangular arrangement. This area was located at the centre of the site and was at the edge of the east limit of excavation. The pits were subrectangular in plan and were orientated north–south. They defined an area 4.4m long and 3.4m wide. The base of a prehistoric pottery vessel was recovered from one of these pits.
Area B was c. 2m north-west of Area A and consisted of a subcircular setting of double post-holes that had a diameter of c. 15m. A series of pits and post-holes were recorded in its interior. Cremated bone was recovered from some of these features. This arrangement of post-holes has been tentatively interpreted as a timber circle.
Area C was located c. 15m north-west of Area B and also consisted of a series of post-holes which formed a subrectangular structure that had double post-holes located at the south-east corner. This may have represented an entranceway. This possible structure measured 6m long and 2.8m wide and cremated bone was recovered from the majority of the possible post-holes.
This work was funded by Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority.