House - Neolithic

The National Monuments Service's description

The two Neolithic houses were situated at the top of a slight N-facing slope. Structure B (int. dims 7.2m NE-SW; 4m NW-SE) was just W of Structure A and was defined by a slot-trench which was most substantial (Wth 0.48m; D 0.2m) at the NE side but there was no evidence of it on the SE side. It was filled with a light brown clayey silt with numerous packing stones. There were postholes in the trench at the W, N and E angles and in addition there were external postholes at the W and N angles. The trench was shallowest on the SW side where there is a gap (Wth 1m) that might have been an entrance. There was one fairly central but shallow posthole and another equally slight posthole towards the S angle, but two large, shallow pits or hollows (dims 2m x 1m; D 0.21m: 3.4m x 0.8m; D 0.14m) on the inner side the NE slot-trench respected that trench and are probably contemporary with it although they produced no dating material. No artefacts were recovered and the little charcoal from environmental samples was oak. While no direct dating is available its form and location beside Structure A mandate a Neolithic date. (McLoughlin 2010, 8-11)

See the attached plans adapted from McLoughlin 2010 (figs 5, 9)
ME017-089_1 Location;
ME017-089002-_1 Plan;

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 23 March 2022

References

McLoughlin, G. 2010 M3 Clonee – North of Kells, Contract 4, Navan to Kells and Kells Bypass. Final Report on Cookstown Great 3, Co. Meath. Licence: E003139. Unpublished report, Irish Archaeological Consultancy