1997:009 - STRAWHALL (& GRAIGUE, Co. Laois), Carlow

The site lies on the River Barrow, approximately 1km north of Carlow town. The investigation took place prior to the construction of a bridge on the new Northern Relief Road for Carlow. The riverbed survey was carried out by a team of MAU divers in early February.

There was no known archaeology in Graigue, the townland to the west of the river. This was low-lying and swampy, and had been severely remodelled by the construction of massive earthen settling tanks related to the sugarbeet-processing plant on the east side of the river. A cremation cemetery, accompanied by encrusted urns, was uncovered at the time of construction of the factory. This lay about 200m to the north-east of the site.

The river had been canalised in the 19th century and still has a well-maintained towpath on the eastern side. The one to the west is much more overgrown and poorly maintained.

An area 30m long and 5m deep was examined on the riverbed around the site of each bridge support as it was only in these areas that bed disturbance would occur. The area was laned and gridded, and searched visually and by remote sensing. Nothing was found except modern rubbish. The areas were then excavated using a water dredge.

There was no depth of ancient deposits on the bed, just a fairly modern silt build-up. This is to be expected owing to the canalisation of the river. Nothing of archaeological significance was recovered.

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