County: Laois Site name: OLDTOWN (1)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/105, E2214
Author: Tara O’Neill, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd.
Site type: Fulacht fia
Period/Dating: Prehistoric (12700 BC-AD 400)
ITM: E 633544m, N 672631m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.803634, -7.502524
This site was excavated in March 2006 as part of the programme of resolution of archaeological sites on the route 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 site consisted of two troughs and three associated pits. Trough 1 was oval in shape and measured 2.4m by 1.4m by 0.4m in depth. The base had a series of 28 stake-holes with an average depth of 0.25m and diameter of 0.1m. It was filled with moderate charcoal and heat-shattered silty clay. Trough 2 was subrectangular in shape and measured 2.1m by 1.9m 0.25m in depth. The base had four stake-holes, one in each corner. It had a charcoal and heat-shattered sandstone-rich fill.
Pit 1 was circular in shape and measured 0.81m by 0.68m by 0.09m in depth. It was filled with silty clay with frequent charcoal and heat-shattered sandstone. Pit 2 was sub-oval in shape and measured 1.71m by 0.86m by 0.35m in depth. It was filled with sandy clay with frequent charcoal and heat-shattered sandstone. Pit 3 was circular in shape and measured 1.9m by 2.2m by 0.35m in depth. It was filled with sandy clay with occasional charcoal and heat-shattered sandstone.
Samples from this site are currently undergoing analysis.
Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth
