County: Laois Site name: Gortnaclea
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: A015/142, E2248
Author: Ed Danaher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda.
Site type: No archaeological significance
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 635349m, N 686422m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.927454, -7.474265
An assessment was carried out in advance of the planned M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway scheme (Contract 3) by ACS Ltd. The archaeological assessment of Contract 3, Testing Area 14, involved the mechanical excavation of 34 test-trenches, a combined length of 1484 linear metres; this resulted in an excavated area of 2968m2. This testing area is situated in the townland of Gortnaclea at Chainage 21050–21550. No archaeological finds or features were uncovered.
Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
1170. Kilcotton 1
Charcoal-production pits
229952 185401 to 230240 185365
A015/077, E2187
This site was located within Contract 2 of the proposed M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway scheme and was identified during advance testing by Lydia Cagney (Excavations 2005, No. 860, A015/032). Full resolution occurred in February 2006. Kilcotton 1 comprised the remains of c. 54 charcoal-production pits spread over a 200m by 30m area, with many sited in clusters of 2–3. These pits varied from circular to oval in shape, with most showing signs of in situ burning and containing a high charcoal content within their fill. No artefacts were found in association with any of the features/deposits exposed on site. Soil and charcoal samples currently await analysis.
