County: Laois Site name: CAPPAKEEL 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0736
Author: Jonathan Dempsey, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: N/A
ITM: E 655832m, N 705048m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.093106, -7.166427
The features at Cappakeel 1 were identified during monitoring of topsoil-stripping undertaken as part of the main construction phase of the M7 Heath–Mayfield Motorway Scheme (No. 1051, Excavations 2003, 03E0623). They consisted of seven irregular spreads of black/brown peaty clayey silt with occasional stones and charcoal flecks. The fill of one of these features was heavily oxidised, indicating burning. A linear feature orientated north-north-west/south-south-east was located to the east of these features.
On excavation, the irregular spreads proved to be tree boles. The presence of charcoal and carbonised tree roots in the fills and the presence of heavy oxidisation on the sides of one of the tree boles would indicate that the tree stumps were burnt in situ after being toppled. The linear feature was a relatively modern drainage ditch. This feature was 1.4m wide and 0.3m deep, with a U-shaped profile. The primary fill was a well-sorted light-brown silty clay. This was overlain by a loose black/brown peaty clay.
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