County: Laois Site name: KILCOTTON (2)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/078, E2188
Author: Ed Danaher, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia and Charcoal-making site
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 630181m, N 685389m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.918487, -7.551218
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. 888, A015/031). Full resolution occurred in February 2006. Kilcotton 2 comprised the remains of a ploughed-out fulacht fiadh consisting of a small spread of burnt-mound material, a subrectangular trough, a hearth and numerous pits; also uncovered were sixteen later charcoal-production pits, which are likely to be a continuation of those excavated in the neighbouring Kilcotton 1 (see No. 1170, Excavations 2005). These pits were mainly 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, burnt stone and charcoal samples currently await analysis.
21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda
