County: Laois Site name: CLONRUD
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/051, E2166
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Structure
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 637439m, N 689305m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.953225, -7.442841
This area, known as Contract 3, Testing Area 10, was tested in February 2006 as part of the programme of additional archaeological assessment 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. The initial assessment was carried out in April 2005 by Aidan O’Connell (Excavations 2005, No. 871).
Original assessment of this area identified an isolated pit, which was designated Clonrud 2 and was subsequently excavated.
As part of the additional testing of this area a total of fifteen test-trenches with a combined length of 489.323 linear metres were excavated in Field 243 (Plot 205); this resulted in a total excavated area of 978.65m2. Subsoil for this area varied from grey marl to orange boulder clay. The topsoil consisted of peat. One possible archaeological site was recorded. This site was designated Clonrud 5 and consisted of a very flimsy wooden structure that may be the remains of a drain or palisade. Excavation of this site will be undertaken as part of the resolution programme on this scheme.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
