2005:Appendix I - M7 PORTLAOISE–CASTLETOWN, M8 PORTLAOISE–CULLAHILL MOTORWAY SCHEME, 2005 SUMMARY, Laois

The M7 Portlaoise–Castletown, M8 Portlaoise–Cullahill motorway scheme commences at Portlaoise and extends as far as Castletown in the south-west and Cullahill in the south. It covers a distance of 41km with 11km of side roads. Testing on this large scheme commenced in March of 2005 and all testing work and subsequent resolution was carried out by Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd (ACS Ltd). Testing, which consisted of detailed geophysical survey, central strip and metal detection, revealed over 94 archaeological sites. Prior to testing only three known sites were to be impacted on by the scheme, with a fourth site at Oldtown being revealed by aerial survey. Fortunately it was possible to avoid having an impact on the large complex of enclosures revealed through the aerial survey at Oldtown.

The scheme runs through the county of Laois, through rich agricultural land consisting of pasture and crop. The main testing technique, central strip testing, covered the entire length and width of the scheme. However, there were considerable areas of bog where differing methods of testing were successfully employed. Other areas consisted of Coillte plantations and areas of marsh and bog margin.

During 2005 twenty archaeological sites were excavated, including a large Early Christian enclosure at Parknahown 5, with its large cemetery (see No. 906, Excavations 2005). Work also commenced on Killeany (see Nos 890–1, Excavations 2005), another very large enclosure with a small cemetery. A number of fulachta fiadh were also excavated. Forty-two per cent of the archaeological sites on the scheme were revealed to be fulachta fiadh or burnt spreads. The majority of the sites excavated during 2005 were enclosures of Early Christian date with clusters of enclosures, especially in the townland of Parknahown, being excavated. Approximately 600 burials were revealed at the large, important sites at Parknahown 5 and Killeany 1. Excavation at Killeany 1 will continue into 2006. The burials at Parknahown had a very fine array of funerary items, such as highly decorated beads. A very fine zoomorphic penannular brooch, with Anglo-Saxon influences, was also recovered from the enclosure at Parknahown. One female burial at Killeany had a very fine bone necklace dating to the 5th/6th century.

Lismore townland revealed a portion of a large enclosure, which may be Early Christian in date (see No. 894, Excavations 2005). The remaining portion of the enclosure extends into the next townland, that of Bushfield/Maghernaskeagh, and will be excavated in 2006. The townland of Derrinsallagh would appear to have been heavily populated during the Early Christian period. Four archaeological sites within the footprint of the motorway were excavated, consisting of two areas of pits, a fine corn-drying kiln, and Derrinsallagh 3, a large enclosure with a possible structure and kiln outside the ditch (see Nos 879 to 881, Excavations 2005). The remaining half of Derrinsallagh 3, which extends into the townland of Doon and under the existing R435 road, will be excavated in 2006. Derrinsallagh 4, a large area of pits and post-holes, has been stripped of topsoil and detailed archaeological excavation will take place in 2006.

Many prehistoric sites were also excavated. A small Neolithic site, Parknahown 4 (see No. 905, Excavations 2005), consisting of pits and a small amount of Neolithic pottery, was fully excavated. A Bronze Age complex at Cuffsborough, where four large sites in close proximity to each other may form a Bronze Age landscape, complete with ritual, secular and industrial areas, was also fully excavated (see Nos 874 to 877, Excavations 2005). This important ritual site was the only one of its type excavated on the scheme and work here will be completed in January 2006. A series of fulachta fiadh were excavated in the townland of Shanboe (see Nos 913, 916, 917, Excavations 2005), where a very fine chert arrowhead was discovered at Shanboe 1. A possible structure was revealed beside one of the fulachta fiadh at Shanboe. Further burnt spreads were excavated at Springfield (see Nos 919 to 921, Excavations 2005) together with a Bronze Age structure.

The later post-medieval period was represented by a post-medieval stone structure in Parknahown (see No. 903, Excavations 2005) and an 18th-century industrial site at Gortnagroagh (see No. 885, Excavations 2005).

Work will continue during 2006, when the majority of the sites will be fully excavated and any additional geophysical surveying will be carried on. Additional testing and/or topsoil-stripping may also be carried out in specific areas.

Kildare County Council, Maudlins, Naas, Co. Kildare