Enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

The later part of the Iron Age (800 BC – 500 AD) and the early part of the Early Medieval Period (500-100 AD) are represented by a rectangular enclosure, two inhumations, and the use of cereal-drying kilns. Structure 8 is a rectangular enclosure (int. dims 16.2m NNW-SSE; 14.1m ENE-WSW) that is situated towards the top of the NE-facing slope of the spur from where it commands wide views, including towards Kells which is c. 2.5km to the NW. It is defined by a foundation trench (Wth 1.2m; D 0.31-0.51m) on every side except the W and the W end of the S side where it has probably been truncated as the trench is narrower and shallower at both termini. The entrance must have been on the W side, and the trench probably supported a post and panel construction. There were four external postholes outside the N and E walls and four stakeholes c. 1.5-2.5m inside the S trench. Within the trench were several stony contexts that probably represents packing stones and several post-pipes were recognized through the general primary fills of silts.

A possible polishing stone, an intrusive Neolithic sherd and a spindle whorl were the only artefacts recovered from the silts. Fragments of burnt bone were also retrieved from these deposits, but only one cow tooth was recognizable. However, a sample of bone from a primary fill returned a C14 date of 143-343 cal. AD (UBA 15488). The upper fills of the trench were more compact brown sandy silts or clays, and a small perforated stone bead and a grinding stone were recovered from them. A fragment of birch charcoal from these deposits produced a determination of 433-606 cal. AD (UBA 12908). Although numerous samples were examined no grain was recovered, which suggests that it had no role in the use of the contemporary cereal-drying kilns. (Walsh 2011, vol. 1, 134-141)

It is too large to have been roofed without internal supports that are completely lacking, and the enclosure may have been intended to encompass the burials c. 5m further W in an enclosed burial ground. A cogent argument that it may even have been a pre-Christian shrine or temple can also be made (Walsh 2012, 305-11) as comparable contemporary monuments can be cited from Roman Britain and Gaul.

See the attached plans adapted from Walsh 2011 (vol. 2, figs 6, 7, 25)
ME017-087_1 Site plan;
ME017-087_2 Contour plan;
ME017-087_7 Location;
ME017-087019-_1 Plan;

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

Walsh, F. 2012 23. Iron Age sanctuary enclosure, boundary ditch and kilns at Kilmainham, Co. Meath. in Corlett, C. and M. Potterton (eds) Life and Death in Iron Age Ireland in the light of recent archaeological excavations. 23, 303-12. Dublin, Wordwell