2005:869 - CLONADACASEY, Laois

An assessment was carried out in advance of the proposed M7 Portlaoise–Castletown/M8 Portlaoise–Cullahill motorway scheme between February and June 2005. The work was carried out in May 2005 on behalf of Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority. The section described in this report is Testing Area 3 of Contract 3 and consists of c. 15km of motorway which extends north–south from the termination of the Portlaoise bypass to Aghaboe through the townlands from Clonboyne to Gortnaclea. The works consist of all associated roads and side roads. This section contains the Toll Plaza in the townland of Clonadacasey, a grade separated junction at the tie-in with the existing M7 Portlaoise bypass and a bridge crossing the River Nore in the townland of Cloncough and associated ancillary works. The assessment methodology generally consisted of mechanically excavating a 2.15m-wide test-trench along the centre-line, with perpendicular offset trenches extending to the edge of the land-take. Three archaeological sites were identified in the area.

Clonadacasey 1 consisted of three burnt or heat-cracked stone spreads. The first spread was subcircular in outline, measuring 1.7m north–south by 1.8m by 0.1m deep. The second spread was subrectangular in outline, measuring 1.75m east–west by 0.75m by 0.15m deep. The third spread was subrectangular in outline, measuring 1m north–south by 1.25m by 0.14m deep. The composition of these burnt spreads would suggest that they are probably the remains of a ploughed-out fulacht fiadh and may be associated with the burnt-stone spread visible in the field outside the land-take. The site was located in Field 353, at Chainage 32270.

Clonadacasey 2 consisted of a cluster of pits, post-holes and stake-holes. After the first pit was uncovered during the strip of the centre-line trench, a 5m2 extension was made to the east of the trench. Within this area, additional features were uncovered. These included a possible second pit, three post-holes, a linear feature, a small spread of burnt stone and a cluster of stake-holes. The first pit uncovered in the centre-line trench was investigated. It measured 0.45m by 0.33m deep. The sides of the pit sloped steeply and the base was concave. It was filled by dark-brown silty clay that contained small stones and occasional charcoal flecking. No finds were recovered to date these features. The site was located in Field 355, at Chainage 32700.

Clonadacasey 3 consisted of a burnt or heat-cracked stone spread and two possible pits. The exposed burnt spread measured 1.75m east–west by 1m wide by 0.1m. The first pit measured 0.6m north–south by 0.5m and was filled with compact black silty clay that contained much heat-cracked stone and charcoal flecking. The smaller pit measured 0.35m in diameter and was filled by material similar to the previous pit. It is likely that these features are the remains of a ploughed-out fulacht fiadh. The site was located in Field 356, at Chainage 32830.

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