County: Laois Site name: DERRYVORRIGAN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/038
Author: Aidan O’Connell, for Archaeological Services Consultancy Ltd, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Site type: Possible structures, linear features and pits, limekiln and hearths
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 626218m, N 686101m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.925093, -7.610090
The assessment of Contract 2, Testing Area 11, of the M7 Portlaoise–Castletown/M8 Portlaoise–Cullahill motorway scheme involved the mechanical excavation of 52 test-trenches. These had a combined length of 2796m, resulting in a total excavated area of 5592m2, or c. 18% of the total area (31,206m2). The testing area is situated in the townland of Derryvorrigan at Chainage 10830–11240. Testing Area 11 consisted of three separate fields: Field 520 (Plot 128) and Fields 521 and 522 (Plot 127).
An archaeological site was identified in Plot 127, consisting of a number of discrete areas of activity located across Fields 521 and 522. This has been designated Derryvorrigan 1. The features included eighteen post-holes, ten pits, three linear features, one limekiln, one curvilinear trench, one hearth and one charcoal spread.
The limekiln was located in Trench 7, Field 522, to the south of the northern field boundary. It was a subcircular structure with dimensions of 4.2m north–south by 4m.
Three possible circular structures were recorded in Field 522. A series of seven possible post-holes, one curvilinear trench and two pits were recorded towards the southern edge of Trench 2. These may represent the remains of a subcircular structure, possibly a round house with internal activity. Five post-holes were recorded in Trench 15. These may represent the partial remains of a second round or oval structure. Six post-holes and three pits were recorded in Trench 23. Taken together, they may be interpreted as a circular structure with a central pit or hearth.
The two linear features that were recorded at the western side of Field 522 are not depicted on the first-edition OS and later-edition 6-inch maps. They are roughly at an angle of 90° to each other and may form two sides of a rectangular enclosure. The western field boundary may form a third side of this possible enclosure. Internal archaeological activity can be suggested by the location of the round house in Trench 2 (see above). In addition, two further pits and a linear feature may constitute further internal activity.
Three additional pits were located in the south-eastern sector of Field 522.
