County: Laois Site name: Kilcotton 1
Sites and Monuments Record No.: - Licence number: A015/077, E2187
Author: Ed Danaher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda.
Site type: Charcoal-production pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 629896m, N 685438m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.918943, -7.555451
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.
