2007:1399 - Townparks 5, 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. 1335, 04E0915). It was excavated between 1 November and 4 December 2006 and contained two areas of archaeological activity.
In the northern part of the site was a rectangular east–west house structure (Structure A) (9m long by 7m wide) with a possible entranceway at the south-east corner. The western half of the structure was truncated and the foundation trench only survived to a depth of 0.1m in places. The foundation trench was 0.31m deep at the east of the structure and contained packing stones. A chert javelin head was recovered from the fill of the foundation trench amongst the packing stones at its north end, suggesting that the structure was Neolithic in date. An internal circular hearth which contained prehistoric pottery was located in the eastern part of the house. A post-pad and post-hole which would have supported an upright post were located centrally within the structure and would have given added support to the roof and walls.
To the south of the Neolithic house a second rectangular, north–south, structure (6.5m long by 4m wide) was exposed. Eight post-holes were located in pairs at the four corners of the structure. There was no evidence for any obvious activity from within the structure and it is possible that this structure may have been associated with the Neolithic house.
Test-pits
Test-pitting was carried out on Townparks 5 in October 2006 (A029–045). Seven test-pits were excavated and the soil was sieved. The finds are listed in Table 4 below.
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.