Hut site

The National Monuments Service's description

Three hut-sites, a stone platform, some pit-burials and burnt mound 2 can be dated to the Early Bronze Age (2500-1700 BC). Structure VII is located on the W-facing slope at the tip of the S-N spur overlooking the seasonal pond on the shelf beneath it to the W. This is a circular feature (diam. c. 8m) defined by postholes on the periphery ESE-W-N but features on the NE side, including perhaps the entrance, must have been eroded away. The perimeter is slightly clipped at NW by a NE-SW Iron Age ditch. There were two internal postholes just inside the perimeter at S, and a sample of hazel charcoal from one of these provide the C14 date of 1880-1530 cal. BC (SUERC 29342). There was no evidence of an internal hearth but a pit (dims 1.3m x 0.9m; D 0.22m) just to the W is interpreted as a cooking pit, although it does not have an oxidized base. Another pit (diam. 1.22m; D 0.49m) NW of the structure was cut by the Iron Age ditch and contained no artefacts but did retain grains of barley (50), oats (6), rye (1) and wheat (1). Another pit (dims 1.3m x 0.8m; D 0.3m) 6m NW of the structure might also be related, although no stratigraphic relationship can be established. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 100-02)

True location: ITTM (675612, 774145)

See the attached plans adapted from Walsh 2011 (vol. 2, figs 6, 7, 22)
ME017-087_1 Site plan;
ME017-087_2 Contour plan:
ME017-087_6 Location:
ME017-087009-_1 plan;

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 21 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 Unpublished report, 2 vols, Irish Archaeological Consultancy