2014:172 - STRADBALLY, Laois

This project involved the improvement of wastewater treatment works and pipeline scheme. The pipeline had a maximum wayleave of c. 20m and extended within the townlands of Stradbally and Brockley Park.

Pre-development testing had been carried out in 2008 within the pipeline corridor where it passed in proximity to an abbey (LA014–03901), castle (LA014–03902) and a fortified house (LA014–03904) (07E1168). Several poorly preserved burials were identified at this time to the north of an abandoned house which may incorporate the remains of the abbey and fortified house. Nearly all of the burials appeared to have been previously disturbed and truncated by early 20th-century drainage and construction works.

In 2014 the pipeline wayleave was subject to full excavation. The disturbed remains of 14 skeletons were recorded. The poor level of preservation had reduced since the earlier investigation by the nature of the protective layer and backfill material laid during testing and the fact that the area was in use as an access route.

The burials were located in an area measuring 8m east–west, and it is believed that the burials continue to the north and to the south of the pipeline trench. It is likely that the burial area may have extended to the east by a few metres but a later drain impacted upon much of this area within the pipeline trench. A later building and drain disturbed a 10m area to the west of the burials and many of the excavated remains had been truncated by this activity so it likely that the burial area originally extended into this western area.

There was evidence that at least some of the burials represented a phased use of the site as there were often direct stratigraphical relationships between different burials. It was difficult however to identify the number of phases of use accurately. The lowest stratigraphical burial, Sk. 13, has been dated to between the mid-15th and 17th centuries.

A number of features were recorded along the length of the trench representing boundary ditches, drainage channels and rubble-filled pits. The remains of a post-medieval building, noted on the first edition OS map, were also recorded to the west of the burial area.