2004:0938 - CAPPAKEEL C, Laois

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. Cappakeel C consisted of three pits. The first was sub-oval in shape and measured 0.68m north-south by 0.52m by 0.13m deep. The break of slope at the top edge of this pit was sharp, the sides were regular and the break of slope at the base was gradual. The base was rounded (81.076m OD). Two fills were present in this feature. The basal fill was a moderately compacted dull greyish-brown silty clay with occasional small stones and this was overlain by a loose dark-brown silty clay with moderate inclusions of iron-smithing slag.

The second pit was located 0.18m south-west of the first. This feature was subrectangular in shape and measured 0.65m south-east/north-west by 0.65m east-west by 0.18m deep. The break of slope at the top edge was sharp, the sides were regular and sloped steeply and the break of slope at the base was gradual. The base was flat (81.043m OD). The homogenous fill of this pit was a dull greyish-brown silty clay with infrequent charcoal flecks and moderate fragments of iron-smithing slag.

The third pit was located 0.96m east of the second and 0.6m south-east of the first. It was sub-oval in plan and measured 0.6m north-east/south-west by 0.4m by 0.15m deep. The break of slope at the top was sharp and the sides sloped steeply. The break of slope at the base was sharp and the base was flat (86.947m OD). This pit was filled by a moderately compacted greyish-brown silty clay with occasional charcoal flecks and fragments of iron-smithing slag.

Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth