2005:898 - OLDGLASS/TINTORE, 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 March 2005 on behalf of Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority. The section described in this report is Testing Area 6 of Contract 1. Contract 1 of the project incorporated the Portlaoise to Culahill section of the scheme, consisting of c. 14km of motorway, which extends from Aghaboe to south of Cullahill through the townlands from Gortnaclea to Oldtown. Testing Area 6 was located in the townlands of Tintore and Oldglass, between Chainage 16800 and 18000 of the proposed scheme. 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. Four archaeological sites were identified in the area.

Oldglass 1 consisted of a small penannular structure (F3) and was located within Field 84. The slot-trench of this structure was relatively wide, varying from 0.5 to 0.7m in width. A single section was placed across this possible slot-trench, which revealed a gentle break of slope at the top with steep sloping sides that tapered to a rounded base; the break of slope at the base was imperceptible. Two deposits filled this cut. The first was a dark silty clay that contained moderate heat-shattered sandstone and charcoal inclusions, while the second fill consisted of a loose mid-grey/brown sandy clay that contained moderate charcoal and occasional small stone inclusions. F3 was found in isolation and, although it appears to be the foundation of a small hut structure, alternative uses cannot be ruled out. The wide and shallow slot-trench would appear to be inadequate to support any substantial/heavy structure but as a ditch would function adequately as a miniature barrow/henge. Excavation should determine the exact function of this monument. Its minimum dimensions are 3.5m in diameter by 0.1m deep.

Oldglass 3 was located within Field 79A and comprised the remains of a ploughed-out fulacht fiadh. The remains consisted of a spread of burnt-mound material (F39) and a possible trough (F42). F39 was a relatively large and patchy spread of burnt-mound material comprising heat-shattered stone, charcoal and mid- to dark-brown silty clay. This burnt-mound material was spread thinly over a wide area and sealed F42. Much damage appears to have been caused to this material by ploughing and other agricultural activities. Its minimum dimensions are 12m north–south by 15m by 0.1m deep. A section through F39 revealed a deep cut with near vertical sides which may represent the remnants of a trough pit. It was filled with heat-shattered stone, charcoal and mid- to dark-brown silty clay. A decision was taken not to bottom this feature or extend the section. Its minimum dimensions are 2.7m east–west by 1.5m by 0.6m deep.

Oldglass 4 was located within Field 97 and consisted of the slot-trench of a penannular structure, the northern extent of which appeared to be truncated by a large circular pit. The foundation of this circular structure had an overall diameter of just under 7m. The slot-trench was relatively wide, varying from 0.5 to 0.7m in width. Two sections placed across it revealed a sharp break of slope at the top with steep sloping sides that tapered to a rounded base; the break of slope at the base was imperceptible. Two distinct deposits filled this cut. The primary fill (F44) was dark silty clay that contained much charcoal and occasional cremated bone. Removal of this deposit to a depth of 0.3m in two sections revealed what appeared to be three small post-holes set contiguously across the slot-trench; none were excavated at this juncture. It is possible that F44 is the charred remnants of the wall of the structure, while the secondary fill is packing fill, which would have supported this wall in place. This consisted of a loose mid-brown sandy clay that contained little or no inclusions. F43 was found in relative isolation and appears to be the foundation of a small hut structure/house, 6.9m in diameter by 0.3m deep. The northern extent appears to have been truncated by a circular pit, which measured at least 8m in diameter by 0.8m deep. A small box-section through the centre of this feature revealed that it was filled by compact greyish-brown sandy silty clay (F46) which contained two flat pieces of unworked limestone. It survived to a depth of 0.8m.

Oldglass 5 was located to the west of Field 117 and consisted of a number of post-holes that may originally have formed a structure. Six post-holes were located within this trench and all were relatively circular in shape with similar dimensions of c. 0.3m in diameter; two were half-sectioned and revealed depths of less than 0.2m. Following the discovery of these features it was only possible to extend the trench to the south, as the area north of the trench was flooded due to soil investigations being conducted in this area at the time of testing. Therefore it has not yet been proved that these features are the remains of a structure, but it is likely that further topsoil-stripping north of Test Trench 5 will reveal more post-holes and that the shape of the structure that these features may represent will be revealed.

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