Structure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated at the crest of a NE-facing slope. Archaeological testing (04E0916) by S. Delaney (2005) at Testing Area 11 of Contract 4 of the M3 motorway identified (excavations.ie 2004:1271) archaeological material that was fully excavated (E003145) in November and December 2006 by D. Bayley (2010) as Gardenrath 2 when just over 3200 square metres were opened and five phases of limited activity extending from the early Neolithic to the high medieval were recorded (excavations.ie 2007:1316). The features included a Neolithic structure, an early medieval kiln and a high medieval path or roadway.

This is a rectangular collection of postholes (dims c. 4m N-S; c. 4m E-W) defined by six postholes on the N side, three on the E side connected by slot-trenches and four additional postholes on the S side, but the W side seems to have been open. The postholes on the N and S walls are placed in pairs either for extra support or representing rebuilds. An entrance (Wth 1.05m) is postulated at the E end of the N side, with a line of E-W postholes inside it forming a small lobby. A sample of hazel charcoal from one of these provided a radiocarbon determination of 3783-3660 cal. BC (UBA 12043), although oak was a more dominant species in the environmental samples. A small pit (dims 0.96mx 0.55m; D 0.2m) with a rough stone lining that was just S of the internal division produced five pieces of a shattered flint flake and a flint blade. Two sherds of a Neolithic carinated bowl were recovered from the slot-trenches. A sample of pomoideae charcoal from the top fill of a slot-trench returned a C14 date of 3938-3705 cal. BC (UBA 12042).

The structure dates to the Early Neolithic and three external pits (dims 1.15m x 0.48m; D 0.21m to dims 2.24m x 1.94m; D 0.67m) just to the N that produced six sherds of Early Neolithic pottery and a few flint flakes are probably contemporary with it. However, a hearth (dims 1.54m x 0.32m; D 0.23m) located just to the S and which is cut on the W side by a N-S pit (dims 3m x 0.82m; D 0.19m) is probably of Late Neolithic date as a neck-sherd of Beaker pottery was recovered from it. Although the larger pit cuts the hearth its fill is probably disturbed as a sherd of a carinated bowl was recovered from it. Similarly, an oval pit (dims 1.12m x 0.62m; D 0.21m) 3m SW of the structure yielded two sherds of a carinated bowl and a hollow scraper that were likely disturbed from an earlier context as a sample of burnt bone from the pit provided a C14 date of 2457-22-2 cal. BC (UBA 12936), placing the pit in the Later Neolithic. An occupation layer covering the long pit and the W part of the structure had a selection of undiagnostic flints but also produced both Early Neolithic and Beaker pottery. The site of the structure continued to be used as an elongated pit (dims 3.43m NNW-SSE; 1.04m E-W; D 0.17m) across its centre cut the occupation layer, and while it produced no artefacts a barley grain from it produced a radiocarbon determination of 1628-1496 cal. BC (UBA 12044). Other pits and groups of stakeholes from around the excavated area are undoubtedly prehistoric in date but no structure or pattern can be discerned. (Bayley 2010, 5-16)

See the attached site plan (_01) and structure plan (_02) from Bayley (2010, figs 5, 6)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 11 March 2022

References

Bayley, D. 2010 M3 Clonee – North of Kells, Contract 4, Navan to Kells and Kells Bypass. Final Report on Gardenrath 2, Co. Meath. Licence: E003145. Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy

Delaney, S. 2005 M3 Clonee-North of Kells; Contract 4, Navan - Kells and Kells Bypass. Report on Archaeological Assessment at Testing Area 11 in Gardenrath, Grangegoddan Glebe and Kilmainham, County Meath. Licence: 04E0916. Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy