County: Laois Site name: Togher Cross
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: A015/137, E2246
Author: Deirdre Murphy, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Site type: Testing
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 636709m, N 687915m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.940786, -7.453859
This area, known as Road Testing Site 7, was tested between 30 August and 12 September 2005 as part of the programme of archaeological assessment of the proposed M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway, Contract 3. The work was carried out on behalf of Laois County Council and the National Roads Authority.
Testing involved the mechanical excavation of four trenches, measuring 8m by 1.2m by 1.25m, through an existing road at Togher Cross. The natural subsoil was intermittent layers of natural clay and peat. This natural was soft and unstable. A number of pre-existing roads were evident under the existing road surface. The fields at both sides of the road were at least 1.5m lower than the road. No archaeological finds or features were identified within the trenches.
Editor’s note: Although this licence was issued during 2005, the report on the work was not received in time for inclusion in the bulletin of that year.
