Final Report: M3 Clonee – North of Kells Motorway Scheme Archaeological Services Contract 4 Navan to Kells and Kells Bypass

This is a final report of an archaeological excavation at Grange 3 which was located on the route of the M3 Navan–Kells & Kells Bypass (Archaeological Services Contract 4) of the M3 Clonee–North of Kells Motorway Scheme, County Meath. The excavation was carried out by Dr. Amanda Kelly of Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd on behalf of Meath County Council and the National Roads Authority. The work was carried out under Ministerial Direction No. A029/005 and National Monuments Service (NMS) Excavation Registration No. E3123 which were received from the DoEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. The fieldwork took place between 26 June 2006 – 26 January 2007. The excavation at Grange 3 uncovered multi-period activity spanning the early Bronze Age to the early medieval period, with four major phases of activity identified. Further contemporary activity was excavated within 500m north-west and 500m south-east in the same townland. The excavated remains from this site and the other sites in Grange indicate that this area was the focus of activity over a prolonged period indicating that the locale held a certain significance ensuring its longevity in terms of human activity.