County: Laois Site name: BUSHFIELD or MAGHERNASKEAGH (5)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/117, E2226
Author: Ian Russell, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Pit
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 629602m, N 685407m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.918681, -7.559824
This site was excavated on 12 June 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. There were four pits measuring 0.92–1.65m by 0.45–1.6m by 0.12–0.44m deep. They consisted of sandy and gravelly clay with charcoal, some burnt bone and angular stones. Along with this was a spread of sandy clay, and angular and heat-shattered stones measuring 0.14m wide by 0.09m deep. The rest of the features were field boundaries or drains that were filled with sandy and gravelly clay and angular stones. The natural subsoil consisted of orange sandy clay, while the topsoil had sandy clay 0.22m in depth.
Samples from this site are currently undergoing analysis.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
