County: Laois Site name: DERRYVORRIGAN (2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/84, E2194
Author: Anne-Marie Lennon, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Structure, Hearth and Pit
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 626755m, N 686227m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.926199, -7.602080
This site was identified during testing along the route of the M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway scheme. An area of 20m by 20m was topsoil-stripped, uncovering a subcircular structure. The structure consisted of ten post-holes forming a circle and measured c. 7m in diameter. The post-holes were mostly circular or subcircular in outline, averaging 0.4m in diameter by 0.35m deep. Several of the post-holes had packing stones around the edges. Two shallow pits were located south of the structure. One of these pits contained pottery that has been provisionally dated to the Neolithic period. No evidence of a hearth was found. Two other pits filled with small stones were found to the south-west and north-west of the structure. Post-excavation analysis of this site is still ongoing.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
