2005:872 - CLONBOYNE/CLONKEEN, 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 on behalf of Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority. The section of the project described here is Testing Area 1 of Contract 3. Contract 3 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. 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. Testing Area 1 was located in the townlands of Clonboyne and Clonkeen (Chainage 35400–36600). A mechanical excavator with a 2.15m-wide grading bucket was used to excavate the centre-line and offset trenches. Offset trenches were excavated at 20m intervals (i.e. at 10m intervals on alternate sides of the centre-line trench). One archaeological site was identified in the area.
Clonboyne 1 consists of a curvilinear ditch, which may represent evidence for an enclosed settlement, located in Field 447 (Plot 281), at Chainage 35900. A 24m-long section of the ditch was exposed during the testing. The feature measured c. 1.6m wide, although there was an expansion midway along to c. 2.2m, by up to 0.51m deep at the western end, decreasing to 0.18m deep at the eastern excavated limit. The fill consisted of homogenous grey/brown silty clay with occasional small stones. No archaeological finds were associated with the ditch. The curvilinear plan of the feature suggests an enclosure. Whether the ditch relates to settlement or burial activity can only be ascertained by further investigation.