County: Laois Site name: BUSHFIELD or MAGHERNASKEAGH (4)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/116, E2225
Author: Ian Russell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Burnt mound and Well
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 629543m, N 685477m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.919313, -7.560695
This site was excavated on 16 May 2006 as part of the programme of resolution of archaeological sites on the route of the proposed M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway scheme. The work was carried out on behalf of Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority.
This site consisted of a number of features. An oval-shaped well was found with four deposits all consisting of peat and charcoal, except for a spread that lay over the top of the cut. It was filled with black, sandy silt. The cut measured 2.8m by 2.4m by 1.27 deep. Also found was a burnt-mound spread and two possible troughs. The spread’s dimensions were 0.79m by 0.96m by 0.5m deep. It consisted of sandy silt, burnt stones and charcoal. The troughs measured 2.1–3.35m by 0.7–2.46m by 0.29–0.48 deep. They consisted of gravelly clay with charcoal, heat-shattered stones and angular stones. There was also a modern field boundary that measured 2.16m wide by 0.27m deep and contained clay. The natural subsoil consisted of orange sandy clay, while the topsoil had grey peaty clay, 0.26m in depth.
Samples from this site are currently undergoing analysis.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
