Road - road/trackway

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.

A metalled surface (L c. 25m; Wth 2.15m; T 0.1m) set into a firm matrix of clay extends WNW-ESE across the excavated area above all the other features and c. 15m S of the Neolithic structure. Parallel ruts from wheels were noted. Although no artefacts are associated with it and it has no associated drains or banks, its surface is cut by NNE-SSW post-medieval furrows and the roadway is regarded as high medieval in date. (Bayley 2010, 20)

See the attached site plan adapted from Bayley (2010, fig. 5)

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 Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy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 Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy