Situated on an undulating low-lying landscape. Archaeological testing in advance of the M4 Kinnegad to Kilcock motorway identified sub-surface archaeological features. These were set aside for resolution as Johnstown 3, which was resolved (02E1094) in October 2002. Two furnaces (dims 0.37m x 0.32m; D 0.2m: 0.26m x 0.26m; D 0.17m) with similar fills including iron slag and charcoal were cut in the subsoil and placed just 0.5m apart. A sample of oak charcoal from the smaller produced a C14 date of Cal BC 420-230, but the possibility of old wood arises. (O’Hara 2004, 2008)
Compiled by: Michael Moore
Date of upload: 14 August 2019
O’Hara, R. 2004 Johnstown 3. Bowl furnaces. In I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2002: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 416-7, No. 1472. Bray, Wordwell
O’Hara in Carlin, N., Clarke, L. and F. Walsh 2008 The Archaeology of Life and Death in the Boyne Floodplain, vol. 2, Johnstown 3. National Roads Authority, Scheme Monographs 2. Dublin
Description Source: Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage