County: Laois Site name: DERRINSALLAGH/DOON
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/040, E2155
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Metalworking site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 624973m, N 685740m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.921909, -7.628629
This area was tested between 31 July and 2 August 2006 as part of the programme of additional 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 additional archaeological assessment of Contract 2, Testing Area 13, involved the mechanical excavation of 21 test-trenches in Field 489 (Plot 129). These had a combined length of 816.062m, resulting in a total excavated area of 1632.124m2. The extension of a large ironworking site, Derrinsallagh 4, containing numerous bowl furnaces and smithing hearths, was uncovered during the assessment. A number of features were exposed, including pits, post-holes, bowl furnaces, a semicircular slot-trench and a pottery-filled pit, which would appear to represent the occupational area of the site. Samples and finds from this site are currently undergoing analysis.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
