House - Neolithic

The National Monuments Service's description

The Late Neolithic (c. 2800 BC - c. 2500 BC) is represented by this possible rectangular house (Structure V), and another house, Structure VI c. 80m to the E. Structure V is situated on the slight col between the spur and the rise to its W, with a hollow that contains a seasonal pond c. 30m further N. This structure is a rectangular area (dims 13m NE-SW; c. 7.75m NW-SE) defined by corner postholes, and with central postholes on all its walls except the NE. There were no internal features apart from one posthole and a cluster of six stakeholes in the N angle. The postholes on the perimeter were shallow, and the only artefact recovered was a sherd of what is thought to be Beaker pottery from a posthole that also returned a C14 date of 3086-2913 cal. BC (UBA 12919). This is from a piece of a burnt skull, possibly human, but as the date is too early the bone must be residual. However, another C14 date of 2474-2309 cal. BC (UBA 15480) from a piece of young oak charcoal in another posthole is probably more reliable. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 54-6)

A group of ten small pits (diam. 0.5m; D 0.13m to 1.67m x 0.81m; D 0.33m), two hearths, and a metalled surface (dims 3.9m x 2.6m; T 0.07m), together with some post- and stakeholes c. 8m to the W is interpreted as another possible Structure (6) but no pattern is discernible amongst the postholes and no structure might have been present. A sherd of Early Neolithic pottery from a posthole is probably residual, but three tiny fragments of Beaker pottery from one of the 24 stakeholes are probably contemporary with it as a sample of alder charcoal from a posthole returned a C14 date of 2433-2148 cal. BC (UBA 12920). The smaller hearth (dims 0.654m x 0.35m; T 0.09m) beside the metalled surface yielded three sherds of Early Neolithic pottery testifying to the disturbed nature of the deposits but a fragment of hazelnut charcoal provided a radiocarbon date of 2287-2061 cal. BC (UBA 13021). The larger hearth (dims 1.96m x 1.39m; D 0.16m) was c. 3.5m to the SE but produced no material. The metalled surface may have extended further E from the amount of stone in disturbed contexts here, but one of the two layers of grey silt with a large charcoal content over the surface produced three tiny fragments of Early Neolithic pottery. Some layers c. 10m NNE of this area provided five sherds of Beaker ware and may be contemporary. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 56-62)

True location: (675594, 774116)

See the attached plans adapted from Walsh (2011, vol. 2, figs 6, 7, 16)
ME017-087_1 Site plan;
ME017-087_2 Contour plan;
ME017-087_4 Location;
ME017-087006-_6 House plan;

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 16 March 2022

References

Walsh, F. 2011 M3 Clonee – North of Kells, Contract 4, Navan to Kells and Kells Bypass. Final Report on Kilmainham 1C, Co. Meath. Licence: E003140. Unpublished report, 2 vols, Irish Archaeological Consultancy