County: Laois Site name: BALLYSHANEDUFF OR THE DERRIES (Site H)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0678
Author: Gary Conboy, for Valerie J. Keeley Ltd.
Site type: Pit and Kiln - corn-drying
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 657375m, N 706227m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.103535, -7.143187
This site, situated in the townland of Ballyshaneduff or The Derries, Co. Laois, was discovered during testing by Eoghan Moore (No. 1056 above, 03E0126) on the M7 Heath–Mayfield Motorway Scheme. Five trenches were opened, two of which contained archaeological features.
Trench 1 was situated on the western edge of the site and contained five pits. The fill and shape of these pits were similar to those excavated on the site of a fulacht fiadh located 10m to the west.
Trench 5 contained a corn-drying kiln with a stone-lined drying chamber; the flue was cut in two by a modern field ditch. The deposits within the fire bowl and flue were rich in organic material. The flue was heavily scorched, indicating at least one burning event. The date for this feature is unknown but charred cereal from the deposits should allow for a 14C date.
Brehon House, Kilkenny Road, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny
