Field system

The National Monuments Service's description

The Middle (1700-1200 BC) and Late Bronze Ages (1200-800 BC) are represented by the establishment of a field system, three flimsy structures that might be connected with it, fulacht fia 1, and probably the length of path across the pond and the small four-post structure (Structure 7) on top of the ridge. During the Middle Bronze Age the rudiments of a field system began to be established on the gentle NE-facing slope at the NE base of the ridge. Six segments of a NW-SE gully (Wth 0.4-1.4m; D 0.15-0.3m) designated A survive (L 48.4m) with segments placed 0.8-4.15m apart. It is thought that they might have supported elements of a plank fence. The sections had a fill of yellow / brown silty sand below a dark brown sandy clay and sloped down (H 0.9m) to the SE where it terminated at but did not join a SW-NE ditch (B) while its NW end stopped over 10m from a later NE-SW ditch (A). A sample of blackthorn charcoal from Gully A returned a C14 date of 1440-1316 cal. BC (UBA 12917). (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 109-10)

Ditch B extends SW-NE past the junction with Gully A in a section (Wth 1.1m; D 0.34m; L 18.5m) SW of the junction and another (Wth 1.35m; D 0.28m; L 22m plus) extending NE outside the limits of the excavation. Both sections were filled largely with brown clays or silts with some stones but the bottom of the ditch was level throughout. A sample of hazel charcoal from the bottom of the ditch provided a C14 date of 1128-977 cal. BC (UBA 12916), placing it in the Late Bronze Age, but it must have been constructed in conjunction with Gully A. The only other feature dating from the Late Bronze Age is the four-poster Structure 7 on top of the spur. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 117)

During the Iron Age (800 BC – 500 AD) the plan was completed by the construction of an ENE-WSW ditch (A) that extended across the entire area (L c. 180m plus), extending outside its limits at either end. At the W end it extended into the excavation of Kilmainham 1A (ME017-085006-) where high medieval pottery was recovered in the excavated sections (Lynne 2011), testifying to the long period that parts of it remained open, or at least visible.

Within Kilmainham 1C it survived in three sections. From its W end the W section (L c. 75m; Wth 1.8m; D 0.5m) sloped down slightly to the E and terminated where it ran onto the fill of the silted pond. It had two layers of silt and produced no diagnostic artefacts. From the E side of the pond the ditch (Wth 2m; D 0.59m), sloping down severely to the W, continued for 20m before it was cut by a medieval pit, and this section clipped the NW edge of Structure VII. The E section began c. 30m E of where the middle section had been cut and sloped down from the summit of the spur to the E. It had a more complex stratigraphy of silty clays and sands, but produced no diagnostic artefacts. However, a sample of charred holly from the basal fill at its W end returned a C14 date of 203-51 cal. BC (UBA 12915). Further E it was cut by a high medieval cereal-drying kiln. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 120-3)

See the attached plans adapted from Walsh (2011, vol. 2, figs 6, 7)
ME017-087_1 Site plan;
ME017-087_2 Contour plan;
ME017-087_9 field system;

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 22 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