County: Laois Site name: Cloncullane
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 20E0469
Author: Tim Coughlan & Maria Woodlock
Site type: Burnt spread and associated pits
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 648085m, N 689499m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.954117, -7.284405
Archaeological excavations were carried out at Cloncullane, Ballyroan, Co. Laois from 2 to 6 October 2020.
A programme of unlicenced monitoring was carried out at the site by Shanarc Archaeology Ltd. in June 2020. 13 features of archaeological potential comprising of burnt spread, pits, and linear features were identified.
The archaeological features excavated at the site consisted of a burnt spread and three pits. The burnt spread, C12, was located in the south-west of the site (Plate 1). The northern limit of the burnt spread was excavated, however the remainder was covered in polythene and will be preserved in situ in a lawn area and will not be impacted by the development. Two further features, PIS1 and PIS2, were also preserved in situ at the east of the site. These features were covered with polythene and the topsoil was reinstated.
The three excavated pits were located in the east and north-east of the site. Pit C3 was the largest of the three. Its function is unclear although it may have been used for storage. Although it was 13m to the east of the mound, it is interpreted as being peripheral to but associated with the same activity. The two further pits, C6 and C8, were located in the north-east of the site. Both were similar in shape and both had a charcoal-rich upper fill. The functions of the pits are unclear, however it is interpreted that they may be related to activity outside the north-eastern limits of the site rather than with the burnt mound spread in the south-west of the site, 24m away.
A number of linear drains/gullies were identified which were associated with later agricultural activity. These were partially excavated where they impacted on archaeological features (burnt spread C12 and pit C3).
No artefacts were recovered during the excavation phase, however one sherd of prehistoric pottery had previously been recovered during the unlicensed monitoring of the site (Shanahan and Barry, 2020). This artefact remains in the possession of Shanarc. It is hoped that further analysis of environmental remains recovered from the pits and the burnt spread deposit may produce suitable data to date the excavated features.
Reference:
Shanahan, S and Barry, E. 2020 Report on Unlicensed Archaeological Monitoring, Cloncullane, Ballyroan, Co. Laois. Unpublished Report by Shanarc
c/o IAC Ltd, Unit G1 Network Enterprise Park, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow
