County: Meath Site name: Pottlebane 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A030/017; E3179
Author: Derek Gallagher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda.
Site type: Burnt mound and kiln
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 667067m, N 778684m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.753464, -6.983048
This site, located within Contract 5 (Kells–North of Kells) of the proposed M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway, was tested by David Bayley of IAC in 200 (04E1060) and was identified during the geophysical survey. The site was located in a low-lying marshy area close to a stream that flows into the River Blackwater. It was excavated in 2007 and a spread of burnt-mound material (15m north–south by 9m by 0.03–0.34m depth) observed during testing was fully excavated. A second spread (3m by 3m by 0.25m) of similar material was located adjacent to the stream and an oval-shaped north-west/south-east trough (3.05m by 1m by 0.35m) and five pits were also recorded in this area. A subcircular kiln (2.7m by 2m by 0.38m), two pits and four small spreads were also excavated.
It is possible that this site is related to the pits and possible hearths discovered in the vicinity (Pottlebane 1 and 2, A030/019 and A030/018, Nos 1375–6 above) and the adjacent townland (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.
