Structure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on a slight rise in a generally level landscape. Archaeological testing (04E0487) by R. O’Hara on the link-road (R157) for Dunboyne set aside this area for resolution as Dunboyne 4 (excavations. ie 2004:1229). Archaeological excavation (E003024) by R. Elliott (excavations.ie 2004:1554) recorded elements of the field system (ME050-030----) as well as this prehistoric structure and the possible kiln (ME050-062002-). Nineteenth century quarrying, the importation of soils and subsequent ploughing severely truncated most of the archaeological features.
Thirty one stake and post-holes were recorded in one area, and twenty three of these create a long narrow structure (dims 13m plus ENE-WSW; 3.5m NNW-SSE) extending outside the road-take to the WSW. A strictly regular pattern is not discernible but two post-holes just outside the S line towards the E end have ramps from the S, and a C14 date of 2117-1779 cal. BC was returned from one of these. A large post-hole at the E edge also has a ramp at the E edge. This produced two sherds of Middle-Late Bronze Age pottery together with cremated bone, from which a C14 date of 971-804 cal. BC was returned. A sample of charcoal from another post-hole yielded a date of 1115-853 cal. BC. The nature of this structure is uncertain, but it has neither slot-trenches nor a hearth, and the fairly even distribution of the post-holes suggests that it could be a post-alignment, except that its scale is reduced.

See the attached plan from Elliott (2008, fig. 8)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 3 November 2021

References

Elliott, R. 2008 M3 Clonee - North of Kells, Contract 1 Clonee – Dunshaughlin. Final Report on the Archaeological Excavation of Dunboyne 4, Co. Meath. Licence: E003024. Unpublished report, Archaeological Consultancy Services