Burnt mound

The National Monuments Service's description

Located on a slight N-facing slope. Archaeological testing (04E0418) by J. Dempsey of Testing Area 4, Contract 2, prior to the construction of the M3 motorway identified three spreads of burnt mound material. The area was fully excavated (E003065) by M. Mossop as Clowanstown 2 (excavations.ie 2006:1534) in August- September 2006 when it proved to be two burnt mound spreads and a fulacht fia.

In Area B were some tree-boles, one of which incorporated a hearth (diam. 1.5m; D 0.2m) filled with loose black charcoal-stained silt with lenses of dark grey clay and charcoal inclusions. Another tree-bole produced a flint and two chert flakes along with burnt bone that produced a C14 date of 3496-3103 cal. BC (BETA 242291). An E-W drain (Wth 1.5m; D 0.18m) filled with a light grey clay terminated just S of the hearth and extended W (L 6m) outside the excavation. It may be related to the hearth as it is not part of the E-W and N-S drainage system. A hollow-based arrowhead was also recovered from the topsoil c. 5m S of the hearth. (Mossop and Ruddle 2008, 3-4)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 20 April 2022

References

Mossop, M. & Ruddle, E. 2008 M3 Clonee - North of Kells, Contract 2 Dunshaughlin - Navan. Final Report on the Archaeological Excavation of Clowanstown 2, Co. Meath. Licence: E003065. Unpublished report, Archaeological Consultancy Services

Dempsey, J. 2004 M3 Clonee - North of Kells, Contract 2 Dunshaughlin - Navan. Report on the Archaeological Assessment at Testing Area 4, Clowanstown, Co. Meath. Licence: 04E0418. Unpublished report, Archaeological Consultancy Services