County: Westmeath Site name: Ballinderry Big 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A016/078; E3277
Author: Patricia Lynch, Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, 120B Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow.
Site type: Kiln
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 632438m, N 734560m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.360255, -7.512672
Testing was carried out as part of an archaeological mitigation programme associated with the N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone dual carriageway. The site was identified during testing undertaken by Yvonne Whitty of IAC Ltd in July 2005 (A016/029). An excavation area measuring 30m by 30m was opened at Ballinderry Big 3 in April 2006.
The site consisted of a number of pits, some of which showed evidence for in situ burning. One feature, an oval-shaped pit measuring c. 2.23m long by c. 0.89m wide and c. 0.09m deep, has been interpreted as a potential cooking area, due to the presence of charcoal. The pit also contained a post-hole in the centre of its base. It is likely that all the features are related, given their proximity to one another and the similar nature of the majority of their fills. No finds were recovered during the excavation.
This work was funded by Westmeath 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.
