The Healing Well - according to what a man working on the field next to it told Jane Isa last summer - this is known locally as a healing well - people used to queue up at the cottage upstream and come down to it It has three different stages of masonry work so has probably been rebuilt a few times - the water in it is about a foot higher than in the nearby stream It is about 30 metres to the motorway - and is not mentioned in any of the archaeology reports the folklore report which the Planning Approval for this M3on this route was conditional on - does not seem to exist

PROJECT DETAILS

Project M3 Clonee to North of Kells, Contract 2

NRA Project Number MH 00 100

Client Meath County Council, National Roads Design Office,Navan Enterprise Centre, Navan, County Meath

Site M3 Clonee-North of Kells, Contract 2, Testing Area 10

Townland Lismullin
Parish Lismullin (Skreen BY.)
County Meath
Nat. Grid Ref. 293231, 261614-292749, 261726
Chainage 29650–30150
RMP No. N/A
Licence No. 04E0427
Licensee Linda Clarke

Road Scheme M3 Clonee to North of Kells, Contract 2

Senior Consultant Donald Murphy
Consultant Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd,
21 Boyne Business Park,
Greenhills Industrail Estate,
Drogheda, Co. Louth
Project Start Date 3rd March 2004
Assessment Start Date 23rd April 2004
Report Date 13th June 2004

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This report has been prepared by Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd on behalf of Meath County Council, National Roads Design Office, and the National Roads Authority. The assessment was under licence issue by the DOEHLG, in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland (NMI).

Consulting Engineers - N3 Meath Consult
Engineer – Peter Thorne and Thomas Meagher
Resident Engineer – Gillian Coogan
NRDO Meath County Council
Senior Engineer – Nicholas Whyatt
Project Archaeologist – Mary Deevy
Project Liaison Officer – Catherine Anderson
National Monuments Division, DOEHLG
Archaeologist – Martin Reid
Irish Antiquities Division, National Museum of Ireland
Keeper - Nessa O’Connor

SUMMARY

Testing Area 10 was located on contract 2 of the M3 proposed motorway scheme in the townland
of Lismullin. It consisted of two fields and a total of thirty-seven test trenches were excavated
within these fields. A single pit (F6) and an old field boundary (F3) were exposed. The pit feature
was isolated and was archaeologically resolved. An old field boundary was visible on the early
edition OS maps of 1836 in the same position as F3.

No other features of archaeological significance were exposed and no finds were recovered. The
natural subsoil within this field was however quite changeable with bands of boulder clay, fine
gravel, stony gravel and stony boulder clay visible throughout the excavated trenches.

No further archaeological works are required in Testing Area 10 Fields 1and 2. It is, however, recommended that the wooded land adjacent to Testing Area 10 Field 2 should be archaeologically assessed once ownership has been obtained and the land cleared. This area should be archaeologically assessed as it is located in the immediate vicinity of a souterrain
(ME032:021).

CONTENTS

• 1. Introduction Page 1
• 2. The Development
• 2.1 The Proposal Page 1
• 2.2 The Site Page 1
• 2.3 Archaeological Requirements Page 2
• 3. Archaeological Assessment Page 3
• 3.1 Archaeological and Historical Background Page 3
• 3.2 Recorded Monuments Page 5
• 3.3 Methodology Page 9
• 3.4 Archaeological Assessment Results Page 9
• 3.4.1 Testing Area 10 Field 1 Page 9
• 3.4.2 Testing Area 10 Field 2 Page 10
• 3.5 List of Features Page 12
• 4. Discussion Page 13
• 5. Impact Statement Page 13
• 6. Recommendations Page 13
• 7. Conclusions Page 14
• 8. Bibliography Page 15
• 9. Glossary Page 16

List of Figures

• Figure 1 Location of site
• Figure 2 Recorded Monuments in vicinity of Testing Area 10
• Figure 3a Location of test trenches
• Figure 3b Detail of Area 13 showing results of geophysical survey
• Figure 4 SMR Meath Sheet 32 (surveyed 1836)

List of Plates

• Front Cover Early Edition OS map 1836
• Plate 1 Testing Area 10 Field 2, ditch F3
• Plate 2 Testing Area 10 Field 2, band of gravel F4
• Plate 3 Testing Area 10 Field 2, band of gravel F5
• Plate 4 Testing Area 10 Field 2, band of gravel F7
• Plate 5 Testing Area 10 Field 1, general shot
• Plate 6 Testing Area 10 Field 2, general shot

1. INTRODUCTION

This report details the results of an archaeological assessment carried out at Testing Area 10, on Contract 2 of the M3 Clonee-North of Kells proposed motorway scheme (Ordnance Survey sixinch sheet 32, 051mm from the west margin and 283mm from the south margin-005mm from the west margin and 249mm from the south margin; National Grid References (NGR) 293231, 261614-292749, 261726; Figures 1–2). This archaeological assessment was carried out on behalf of Meath County Council. The archaeological assessment was carried out under licence 04E0427, issued to Linda Clarke, from the licensing section of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The archaeological assessment was carried out from 23rd April to 27th April 2004.

2. THE DEVELOPMENT

2.1 The Proposal

Meath County Council have proposed to realign the N3 between Clonee and North of Kells, County Meath (Figure 1). The overall scheme is approximately 60km in length. A total of 49km will be dual carriageway motorway, 2.1km of dual carriageway and 10km single carriageway.

The proposal also involves a number of realignments to existing minor roads. The scheme commences at the end of the existing Clonee Bypass and runs in a northwesterly direction, rejoining the existing N3 north of Kells. The archaeological investigation of known and suspected archaeological sites and the remainder of the route has been divided into 5 separate contracts
(Contracts 1 – 5).

2.2 The Site

Contract 2 is 15.5kms long. The concentration of known and identified archaeological sites indicates that this area within Contract 2 has a very high potential for the presence of unknown archaeological sites and features. The immediate area is dominated by the River Boyne and the Hill of Tara, which has been the focus of extensive research projects in recent years by The Discovery Programme. This contract has been divided into 21 areas of known or suspected archaeological significance (Figure 1).

Testing Area 10 is located within the townland of Lismullin (Skreen BY.), in the parish of Lismullin. This corresponds approximately to Ch 29650–30150 of the proposed scheme. The area contained some pit-like anomalies and some linear anomalies identified through geophysical survey (EIS Ref: Areas 13, 14).

Area 13: Lismullin Townland – geophysical data from environmental impact statement

Situated to the northeast of a tumulus and icehouse (ME032:023), the area is characterised by extensive ferrous debris and by hollows in the field which may indicate quarrying. The scan shows faint traces of possible buildings defined by ditches and pits, although not all the lines are parallel.

Area 14: Lismullin Townland – geophysical data from environmental impact statement

There are faint linear anomalies (possibly ploughed-out archaeological features or plough marks) and a scatter of possible pits.

2.3 Archaeological Requirements

The archaeological requirements for Contract 2 are outlined in the Archaeological Services Contract 1-5 issued by N3 Meath Consult. This document forms the basis of all archaeological works undertaken for this development and has been compiled in consultation with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the National Museum of Ireland following best practice and the Codes of Practice drawn up by the NRA and Dúchas The Heritage Service.

Contract 2 is subdivided into two phases. Phase 1 deals with the test excavation of the whole section including known and possible sites identified in the EIS and other studies as well as the remainder of the section. Phase 2 provides for the resolution of any archaeological sites and/or features identified by the Phase 1 works and will be the subject of separate licence applications.

The aims of the test excavation for Testing Area 10 are:

• To determine, through test excavation, the nature, significance and extent of the archaeological features identified by geophysical survey of Testing Area 10 (Area 13 and 14); and

• To establish, through test excavation, the presence or absence of archaeological sites and features in the remainder of Testing Area 10 and their nature, significance and extent.

The details and methodology required for Phase 1 are set out in the specifications section of the contract document and are as follows:

Phase 1 shall take the form of mechanically excavated 2m wide test trenches in each of the testing areas. The minimum quantity of test trenches required is outlined in the Scope of Works contained within the Bill of Quantities. In general the layout of the test trenches shall be a continuous test trench along the centreline with offsets every 20m across the width of the road take. This pattern shall be modified where necessary and/or instructed by the project archaeologist, e.g. in areas of known and possible sites or where a different layout would be more practical. In addition a test trench shall be excavated parallel to all rivers and streams.

Phase 1 includes the test excavation of known and possible sites. It also includes test trenching the remainder of the route and test excavation of any archaeological remains identified. The purpose of this phase is to determine the presence of or absence of archaeological features, structures, deposits, artefacts or ecofacts along the route. If such archaeological remains are present, the testing phase must establish the nature and extent of the archaeological deposits and features present to allow an assessment to be made of the archaeological impact of the development. A sufficient amount of partial excavation and half-sectioning will be carried out in order to assess the nature and extent of any archaeological remains present.

Where necessary and/or instructed by the Project Archaeologist, the 2m wide test trenches will be widened to 4m and/or additional test trenches will be excavated. For adequate protection archaeological remains uncovered in test trenches will be covered with a geo-textile such as Terram before backfilling. Where specified in the requirements set out in the Scope of the Archaeological Works contained in each of the Appendices, A to E inclusive, a detailed topographical survey will be carried out of any upstanding features prior to testing.

All test trenches were excavated with a Daewoo 220 track machine.

3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

3.1 Archaeological and Historical Background

A general introduction to the archaeological background of Contract 2 is provided below. It is a synopsis of the information contained in Environmental Impact Assessment Vol. 4A carried out by Dr Annaba Kilfeather on behalf of Margaret Gowen and Company Ltd (with additions).

Human occupation in Meath dates to the Mesolithic period, approximately 7500BC, when communities of hunter-gatherers exploited the coastal, lacustrine and riverside environments. The main indicators of Mesolithic activity in Ireland take the form of flint scatters and shell middens.

A general distribution map of known Mesolithic material shows a concentration of material in the North Leinster area, second only to the dense clustering of material on the northeast coast of Antrim and Down. Much of the island was impenetrable in this period due to the dense forest cover which dominated the landscape; this included oak alder, elm, pine and hazel. Mesolithic communities made little impact on the natural environment; where settlement occurred, it tended to take the form of small, seasonal camps such as those at Mount Sandel, Co. Derry and Lough Boora, Co. Offaly (Waddell, 2000, 23).

During the Neolithic period (c.4000–c.2400 BC), technological advances in the production of stone axes and other tools allowed for the clearance of relatively large tracts of forest which facilitated the development of the emerging farming culture. This would arguably reach its zenith in the Boyne Valley with the construction of the three passage tomb cemeteries (Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth) at Brú na Boinne. The cemetery as a whole comprises around forty known passage graves ranging in date from c.3260–c.3080 BC. The cluster of around eighteen tombs at Knowth contains the largest concentration of Neolithic art in Western Europe and some of its finest examples.

The archaeological complex of the Hill of Tara covers the townlands of Castletown Tara, Jordanstown, Castleboy, Fodeen, and Belpere. The complex comprises at least seventy monuments ranging from a Neolithic passage tomb to Iron Age ceremonial earthworks. The best known include Ráith na Ríg, Ráith Lóegaire, Tech Midchúarta (the Banqueting Hall), Ráith na Senad (the Rath of the Synods), Clóenfherta (the Sloping Trenches), Ráith Gráinne, Ráith Maeve (ME037:008), Tech Cormaic, the Forradh, the Lia Fáil standing stone, and Dumha na nGiall (the Mound of the Hostages, which is also a passage tomb). Many of these are mentioned in ancient texts, poetry and oral lore. Outside the immediate environs of the Hill itself there are several additional related monuments such as the linear earthwork in Castletown, Tara and Riverstown (ME031:040) and barrows such as that at Belpere (ME037:035).

Not all the monuments on the Hill of Tara are contemporary and there have been recent attempts to describe the probable chronology and development of the hilltop monuments and their relationship to one another. Newman has suggested eight broad phases for the monuments of the Hill. Traces of a wooden palisade enclosure that were discovered under the Mound of the Hostages may represent the earliest monument within the complex (circa 3030–2190 BC). The Mound itself was constructed over a layer of burning which may represent the destruction of the palisade. The Lia Fáil (the standing stone now located within the Forradh) may have been located beside the passage entrance, similar to the location of the standing stone at the western tomb at Knowth. The third phase of building at Tara is represented by the Banqueting Hall, a linear earthwork which may have been a formal avenue or approach to the Hill.

The Early Bronze Age saw the incorporation of a cemetery into the Mound and the building of some of the barrows which are dotted over the hilltop, probably including the Forradh. These barrows continued into the fifth phase of building at Tara and the gold objects also belong to this phase. Ráith na Ríg was built in the Late Bronze Age in Phase Six and some elements of Ráith na Senad also belong to this phase. This was further expanded during the next building phase along with the construction of Ráith Lóegaire, Ringlestown Rath, Rathmiles, and Rath Lugh, outlying monuments which demonstrate a new relationship with monuments outside the immediate confines of the Hill itself. The eighth and final phase is represented by the conversion of Ráith na Ríg into a defensive rather than ritual enclosure and the construction of Tech Cormaic, the ringfort now attached to the Forradh.

By the third century AD, Tara had been adopted as the capital of Meath and, as the kingdom’s power grew, it assumed the status of a High Kingdom, exercising authority over the entire island.

The first High King of Meath was Cormac Mac Art who is said to have reigned from AD 226– 266 (Coldrick, 2000). The first High King of Ireland was Niall of the Nine Hostages and his descendants or those of his brothers are said to have reigned uninterrupted from AD 402–1169, except for a short period from 1002 when the title was usurped by Brian Ború.

From the late 12th century onwards, Tara formed part of the Anglo-Norman kingdom of Meath.

The land around Tara was held by the de Repenteni family, while Skreen and the surrounding area was controlled by their rivals the de Feipo family. The church on Tara was associated with the Hospitallers of Saint John of Kilmainham. The Hospitallers’ possessions, including the church at Tara, were confirmed to them by Pope Innocent III in 1212. The church continued to function as a parish church until the 16th century. The medieval church was demolished in 1823 and replaced by the present one. Two standing stones are recorded in the graveyard, one of which is carved with a sheela-na-gig. There are also some fine estates and demesnes; some of these have been adapted as golf courses or other leisure facilities, but many still retain eighteenth and nineteenth century garden and demesne features.

The archaeological artefacts retained by the National Museum of Ireland reflect the general archaeological wealth of the area. A mudstone axe (in private possession) which is Neolithic in date is known from Roestown. Bronze axes from the Bronze Age periods are known from Jordanstown and Skreen. Inhumations and cremations from a number of sites throughout the area are also recorded.

3.2 Recorded Monuments in the townland of Lismullin

(Taken from M3 Clonee-North of Kells Dunshaughlin-Navan, Environmental Impact Statement,Volume 4A, Section 13-Archaeology, 165-170)

Lismullin RMP No ME032:053 Inventory No - Site Type Barrow NGR 293670, 261060   a barrow ?-  - it is not planted with trees - and I don't think it is 140 metres from the motorway - I think it is 60-70 metres it is not as described - it is about the same diameter as the distance from the road take ( see pics below)   Distance 140m from proposed motorway Approximately a third of a circular enclosure (projected diameter c.60m) defined by a low bank and internal fosse has been incorporated into the field boundary; the rest has been removed by ploughing. This feature is shown as a circular enclosure (diameter c.50m), planted with trees, on the current edition of the OS six-inch map.

Lismullin RMP No ME032:049 Inventory No - Site Type Souterrain NGR 293550, 261190 Distance 175m from proposed motorway A short length of passage (L c.2.18m, H 1.18m, Wth. 0.86m-0.64m - widest at floor) leads from NW-SE into a circular beehive chamber. This feature was discovered in 1989 during ploughing and is situated between the barrow and the abbey in the same townland.

Lismullin RMP No ME032:025 Inventory No 749 Site Type Enclosure NGR 293920, 261290 Distance 110m from proposed motorway Raised oval area (69m E-W, 50m N-S), with an external fosse visible at the southwest to northeast. There is no visible entrance. This enclosure is known locally as Rath Lugh. It is situated on the south-southwest edge of a high ridge within a wood of beech, lime and sycamore trees, with extensive views to the north and northwest. This site was subsequently interpreted by Conor Newman as an inland promontory fort.

  .....but this perfectly describes the thing marked " barrow" above - I wonder if there has been some confusion ....

3.3 Methodology

In accordance with the specifications section of the contract documents and the method statement approved by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, a 30-tonne 360 degree mechanical excavator with a toothless ditching/grading bucket was used to excavate a centreline trench with perpendicular offsets every 20m. Excavation took place under the direct and continuous supervision of an experienced archaeologist.

Where archaeologically significant features were identified, mechanical excavation ceased and the features were cleaned and tested by hand. A written, drawn and photographic record was prepared and appropriate samples retrieved. All archaeologically significant features were related to Ordnance Datum and the Irish National Grid. The location of finds was recorded and also the feature from which they were retrieved.

3.4 Archaeological Assessment Results

A total of 37 trenches were excavated within Testing Area 10 (Figures 3a and 3b). These trenches were excavated over 2 fields. Two features were exposed in total. These were a single pit (F6) and an old field boundary (F3).

Summary

Five test trenches were excavated within this field (Figures 3a and 3b). They consisted of one centreline trench and four offsets. All the offsets were excavated at an average of twenty metre intervals and spanned the entire width of the road. The topsoil (F1) within this field varied in thickness from 0.15m-0.30m and was removed onto the natural boulder clay (F2). No features of archaeological significance were identified and no finds were recovered.

3.4.2 Testing Area 10 Field 2, Plot 1087

Summary

Thirty-two test trenches were excavated within this field (Figures 3a and 3b). They consisted of one centreline trench and thirty-one offsets. All the offsets were excavated at an average of ten twenty metre intervals, depending on the geophysical data, and spanned the entire width of the road. The topsoil (F1) within this field varied in thickness from 0.15m-0.30m and was removed onto the natural boulder clay/gravel/stony boulder clay (F2). Variations in the natural subsoil did occur and bands of gravel and stony boulder clay were evident throughout the entire field.

A single boundary ditch (F3) and pit feature (F6) were identified within this field. Variations in the natural subsoil were visible. This consisted of bands of gravel of various consistencies, boulder clay and a stony, gravelly boulder clay.

Archaeological features

Pit

The pit (F6) was exposed in Trench 26 (Figures 3a and 3b). Cut into the natural gravel (F2), this feature was irregular in shape and had maximum dimensions of 0.90m by 0.95m and it had an average depth of 0.40m. Its sides sloped steeply towards a relatively flat base. The fill of the pit consisted of a loose mid-brown/grey clay that contained inclusions of small gravel-sized stones and animal bone. This feature was fully resolved and no features were exposed in the vicinity of this pit (F10).

Non-archaeological features

Ditch

The ditch (F3) (Plate 1; Figures 3 and 3b) was exposed in Trench 19 and the centreline trench (Trench 5). Cut into the natural gravelly boulder clay (F2), this feature was aligned north-south and had an average width of 3m. The fill of this feature consisted of a grey/brown stony coloured clay. A slight dip was visible across the entire field. A field boundary is visible within this position on the 1836 Early Edition OS maps (Figure 4).

Bands of gravel were visible throughout the excavated trenches. These bands of gravel were none other than variations in the natural subsoil. The gravel band (F4) was identified within Trench 25  (Plate 2). This gravel band consisted of a sterile, fine brown coloured gravel. It was visible for a length of 5m and was scraped away by hand onto the cleaner, grey coloured gravel visible throughout the remainder of the excavated trench. The gravel band (F5) was also identified within Trench 25 and was of similar consistency (Plate 3). This was also removed onto cleaner, grey coloured stony gravel visible throughout the remainder of the trench. The gravel band (F7) was identified within Trench 28 and appeared to be a hole quarried into the ground (Plate 4). It was filled with a sterile brown stony gravel and reached a maximum depth of 0.40m. A small linear band of gravel (F8) was also identified within this trench. This band was also scraped away during cleaning and was removed onto the cleaner grey coloured stony gravel visible throughout the remainder of the trench.

3.5 List of Features

4. DISCUSSION

No features of archaeological significance and no finds were recovered from Field 1 and a single pit (F6) and an old field boundary (F3) were exposed in Field 2. This pit feature was archaeologically resolved (Figures 3a and 3b). No further discussion is possible with regard to this pit as it was an isolated feature. No finds were recovered and dating this pit was not possible. An old field boundary was visible on the early edition OS maps of 1836 in the same position as

F3 (Figure 4).

5. IMPACT STATEMENT

The fields within Testing Area 10 are more or less at grade. A portion of the northern extent of the field is however located within a fill zone which will result in the construction of an embankment.

A single pit feature was exposed within this field; this was archaeologically resolved during the assessment phase of works. There will therefore be no archaeological impact on Testing Area 10 Fields 1 and 2. The wooded area adjacent to Testing Area 10 Field 2 was not archaeologically assessed. This area is located within a fill zone which will also result in the construction of an embankment. The impact within this area is not yet known.

6. RECOMMENDATIONS

No further archaeological works are required in Testing Area 10 Fields 1 and 2. It is, however, recommended that the wooded land adjacent to Testing Area 10 Field 2 should be archaeologically assessed once ownership has been obtained and the land cleared. It should be archaeologically assessed as it is located in the immediate vicinity of a souterrain (ME032:021).

7. CONCLUSIONS

Testing Area 10 consisted of two fields. Thirty-seven test trenches were excavated in total within these fields. The combined area of test trenches excavated was 5,604m2 out of a total of 41,807m2 in Testing Area 10 resulting in the total of 13% of the Testing Area being archaeologically assessed. A significant portion of woodland was also contained within Testing Area 10. This portion of road take was not archaeologically assessed during this phase of works.

No features of archaeological significance and no finds were recovered from Field 1 and a single pit (F6) and an old field boundary (F3) were exposed in Field 2. This pit feature was isolated and was archaeologically resolved (Figure 3a). An old field boundary was visible on the early edition OS maps of 1836 in the same position as F3 (Figure 4). No other features of archaeological significance were exposed and no finds were recovered. The geophysical results identified hollows within this field that may be indicative of quarrying. This may be indicated by the varying consistencies within the natural subsoil. The natural subsoil within this field was quite changeable with bands and pockets of boulder clay, gravel of varying consistencies and colours (light-dark brown and grey in colour) and stony boulder clay visible throughout the excavated trenches. The faint linear anomalies also identified and the scatter of possible pits also appear to represent variations in the natural subsoil.

8. BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Bhreathnach, E. (1995) “Tara, A Select Bibliography”, Discovery Programme Report 3. Dublin.
• Coldrick, B. (2000) “Archaeological and Historical Background to the M1 Drogheda By-pass”, unpublished report prepared for Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
• Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N., (1988) Medieval Religious Houses of Ireland, Irish Academic Press. Dublin.
• Kilfeather, A. M3 Clonee-North of Kells Dunshauglin-Navan, Environmental Impact Statement Volume 4A, Section 13-Archaeology, 165-170.
• Newman, C. (1997) “Tara, An Archaeological Survey”, Discovery Programme Report 5. Dublin
• Sweetman, D. (ed.) (1987) Archaeological Inventory of County Meath. Office of Public Works. Dublin.

• Waddell, J. (2000) The Archaeology of Prehistoric Ireland. Wordwell. Dublin.

Other Sources

• Record of Monuments and Places (RMP), Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, 7 Ely Place Upper, Dublin 2.
• GSB Prospection Geophysical Survey Report 2000/104, M3 Navan to Dunshaughlin Road
• County Meath, Licence, Number 00R064 on Behalf of Margaret Gowen and Company Limited

9.GLOSSARY

ACCESS ROAD A new private/public road provided for access to lands where previous access has been cut off by road development

CODE OF PRACTICE The Code of Practice is an agreement between the Minister (formally of the Department of Arts Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands but now the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government) and the National Roads Authority on behalf of themselves and the Local Authorities in relation to

archaeology and the development of roads.

CONTEXT/‘C’ NO See Feature below.

CHAINAGE Road scheme centreline distance in metres from scheme start point to finish, in this case south-north.

CPO Compulsory Purchase Order used to compulsorily acquire land required for the development, in this case a road

DOEHLG Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government

EXCAVATION Archaeological Excavation or Resolution – to archaeologically fully excavate and record an archaeological site.

FEATURE/‘F’ NO Archaeological feature, an artificial (man-made) structure or cut or deposit. A feature number is the individual number used to record a feature uncovered in an archaeological excavation.

LANDTAKE The land acquired for the road development.

LICENCE Excavation Licence, archaeological excavation requires a licence granted by the Minister of the DOEHLG in consultation with the NMI

MONUMENT Archaeological Monument – An artificial structure of any date that is of archaeological interest. In common use it generally tends to be used for upstanding archaeology rather than sites with negative features.

NATIONAL MONUMENT A monument or the remains of a monument the preservation of which is a matter of national importance by reason of the historical, architectural, traditional, artistic, or archaeological interest attaching thereto.

NMI National Museum of Ireland

NGR National Grid Reference

OS Ordnance Survey

PLOT NO Individual numbers assigned to all landholdings being acquired by the CPO

RESOLUTION See excavation above.

RMP Record of Monuments and Places – a list of monuments and places and accompanying maps complied by the State.

ROADTAKE The outer edge of the road including any embankment.

SITE Archaeological site – an individual or group of artefacts and/or features in an area.

TESTING Archaeological Testing or Test Excavation – a technique used to establish the nature and extent of archaeological deposits and features present in a location. It can also be used as a technique to locate archaeological deposits and features.

Signed:____________________

Linda Clarke
Archaeologist
August 2004