County: Laois Site name: BALLYDAVIS A
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0623
Author: Jonathan Dempsey, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Pit and Structure
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 650880m, N 700283m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.050780, -7.241105
Monitoring of ancillary works for the M7 Heath–Mayfield motorway scheme, Contract 4, was undertaken from January to June 2004 in counties Kildare and Laois (see Nos 790 and 933, Excavations 2004). Four sites of archaeological significance were identified in the course of the monitoring. That described here was resolved under the monitoring licence. Identified during the removal of a fence line and subsequent topsoil-stripping, Ballydavis A comprised one pit, two post-holes and three non-archaeological features that were probably root boles or stone sockets. The pit was sub-oval in shape and measured 0.5m north-south by 0.34m by 0.11m deep. The sides of the pit were irregular, almost vertical at the south and west while sloping to the north and east to a pointed base. This pit had a homogenous fill that comprised a brown silty clay with very occasional charcoal flecks.
Two possible post-holes were identified 4m west of the pit and together the three features formed a straight line. The first post-hole was circular in shape and measured 0.1m east-west by 0.1m by 0.11m deep (130.09m OD). The sides were almost vertical and the base was flat. This post-hole was filled with charcoal-stained black/brown clayey silt. The second posthole was located less than 0.3m west of the first at a height of 130.11m OD. It was circular in shape and measured 0.11m east-west by 0.11m by 0.10m deep. The sides were vertical and the base was rounded and flat. This feature was filled by a charcoal-stained black/brown clayey silt.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
