County: Laois Site name: CUFFSBOROUGH/LEAP/BALLYHINODE/CURRAGH/TINTORE, Testing Area 3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/015, E2131
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Burnt spread
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 634423m, N 682881m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.895697, -7.488409
An assessment was carried out in advance of the planned M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway scheme (Contract 1) by ACS Ltd in 2005. Additional assessment was carried out in 2006 and involved the mechanical excavation of a test-trench measuring 228 linear metres; this resulted in an excavated area of 456m2. This testing area is situated in the townlands of Cuffsborough, Leap, Ballyhinode, Curragh and Tintore, at Chainage 20800–18250.
Only one feature of archaeological significance was identified. This feature has been designated Leap 2 and consisted of the limited remains of a burnt-mound spread. The shallow spread (4m by 4.2m by 0.05m in depth) consisted of grey and black silty clay with frequent broken sandstone and occasional charcoal flecks and had no associated features. The samples from this site have yet to be analysed.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
