County: Laois Site name: Clonbrin, Ballyroan
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 19E0628
Author: Marion Sutton & Seán Shanahan, Shanarc Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: No archaeology found
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 651198m, N 667942m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.760099, -7.241467
Monitoring of excavation works was carried out on 5 November and 3 December 2019, in association with the construction of a dwelling house and garage on a greenfield site at Clonbrin, Ballyroan, Co. Laois, in line with Condition 18 of the planning permission (Planning Ref: 18/617)
Soil stratigraphy was generally consistent across the site, with sod and mid-brown silty clay topsoil (0.2m) directly overlying yellow/cream coloured silty clay subsoil. Evidence of modern plough furrows, generally orientated north-east/south-west, was noted cutting the subsoil.
A light coloured sand deposit was revealed in the north-east corner of the dwelling footprint, in the location of the associated waste water treatment system. On vertical drone images, this deposit corresponded with a semi-circular cropmark extending south from the hedgerow on the northern boundary of the development site. A test trench was excavated across the feature in the area of the waste water treatment system, revealing a natural hollow that had been in-filled in the recent past by sterile sand. This was confirmed by the land owner following a discussion regarding the anomaly.
No features, finds or deposits of archaeological significance were identified during monitoring of excavation works.
Unit 39A, Hebron Business Park, Hebron Road, Kilkenny
