County: Meath Site name: Pottlebane 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A030/019; E3181
Author: Stuart Rathbone, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda.
Site type: Pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 666900m, N 778997m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.756297, -6.985511
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 (04E1060) and was excavated between January and February 2007. Eight small pits and one large pit were situated on a large drumlin adjacent to a small river valley. Three of the pits were located at the base of the southern slope while a second cluster of a large hollow or pit (approx 6m by 4m) and two smaller pits was situated in the top of the drumlin. The hollow contained several layers of material and overlay a large hearth. The site may represent a campsite or hunting hide from which to observe the river valley.
It is possible that this site is related to the pits and possible hearths discovered in the vicinity (Pottlebane 2, No. 1376 below, A030/018) and the adjacent townland (see Nos 1294–6 and 1298 above: Derver 1, A030/025; Derver 2, A030/024; Derver 3, A030/023; Derver 5, A030/021), which appear to reflect temporary campsites or cooking areas.
