County: Laois Site name: CUFFSBOROUGH (5)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/089, E2199
Author: Eamonn Cotter, for Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Metalworking site
Period/Dating: Post Medieval (AD 1600-AD 1750)
ITM: E 634366m, N 682798m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.894955, -7.489264
The site was excavated in January 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 principal feature of the site was a rectangular area measuring 6m by 3m and containing a high proportion of metal slag and layers of densely packed metal ‘scales’. These ‘scales’ are tiny fragments of metal that were struck off when metal was being hammered, either during the forging or smithing process, and became compressed over time into solid layers. The layers as found probably represent the floor of a metalwork shop. Iron may have been smelted on the site, or iron pieces smelted elsewhere may have been forged into tools here. Either process would have involved hammering of the metal, which would have produced the build-up of metal ‘scales’. While no definitive evidence of structural walls survived, the edges of the metallic deposits were quite straight, suggesting that this was an internal floor. The walls may have been of clay, and simply have not survived, or of stone that had been robbed out. A number of post-holes were excavated, which may have been part of the structure.
Several iron artefacts were recovered, including one possible hammer and several fragments of clay pipe, indicating a post-medieval date for the site.
Post-excavation analysis is in progress.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
