County: Laois Site name: N80 Maidenhead Realignment Scheme, Ballynagall, Maidenhead
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 18E0130
Author: David Bayley & Tim Coughlan
Site type: Kiln and habitation site
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 665200m, N 683855m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.901592, -7.030869
Seven areas were assessed for archaeological test trenching.
AREA 1: 665200, 683855
AREA 2: 665040, 684020
AREA 3: 664930, 684230
AREA 4: 664870, 684380
AREA 5: 664490, 684985
AREA 6: 664415, 685270
AREA 7: 664385, 685250
A total of 3497 linear metres (6994m2) of archaeological test trenches were excavated in Test Areas 1–6 within the Lands Made Available for the scheme. No testing took place in Test Area 7 as it is a road depot with a surfaced yard and is outside the area for scheme development. Testing was carried out in April 2018.
A total of two sites of archaeological potential were identified during Stage (i)a works, which have been designated as Ballynagall 1 and Maidenhead 1. The sites were identified in Area 1 and Area 5 respectively. At the Ballynagall 1 site a possible kiln and post-hole were identified. At Maidenhead 1 suggestions of habitation activity in the form of a circular ditch enclosing a number of pits and compacted earth and areas of burning, were identified.
Nothing of archaeological significance was identified in Areas 2, 3 or 4. A small area of burning was identified in Area 6 but this was fully resolved during Stage (i) a works. Monitoring of topsoil stripping for a site compound at Maidenhead 1 was also undertaken as part of the Stage (i)a testing works.
Both identified sites of archaeological potential, Ballynagall 1 and Maidenhead 1, were subject to subsequent excavation in September 2018 under licenses 18E0428 and 18E0236, respectively.
c/o IAC Archaeology, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
