County: Laois Site name: BUSHFIELD OR MAGHERNASKEAGH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/034
Author: Lydia Cagney, for Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Site type: Pits, post-pits, post-holes and a hearth
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 628701m, N 685555m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.920060, -7.573205
Testing along one section of the planned M7/M8 Portlaoise–Castletown and Portlaoise–Cullahill motorway scheme, Co. Laois, was undertaken on behalf of Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority. The work was carried out on 13 April 2005. Testing Area 7 was one of the areas designated to be investigated within Contract 2 (Coolfin–Derrinsallagh and Townparks) and is situated in the townland of Bushfield or Maghernaskeagh. The assessment of Contract 2, Testing Area 7, involved the mechanical excavation of 26 test-trenches. This testing area was confined to one field, in which one archaeological site was identified. This has been designated Bushfield or Maghernaskeagh 1.
The site was situated at the western end of the field, 30–40m from the townland boundary, and comprised a number of pits/post-pits, post-holes and a hearth. An extension of 9.7m by 7.43m was excavated around these features, yet it was clear that they extended beyond the limits of the trench. A number of isolated features were also exposed in the surrounding trenches, while a disturbed fulacht fiadh was uncovered a short distance east of these features. The features uncovered in this area may be associated with those identified as Lismore 1 in Testing Area 8 (see No. 863 below). These were uncovered on the northern side of the boundary separating these townlands.
