2024:787 - Cedar Clinic, Mountmellick Road, Maryborough, Portlaoise, Laois

Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS) were engaged to undertake archaeological excavation and subsequent monitoring as a condition of a planning permission. The site contains no recorded monuments, archaeological sites or sites of architectural heritage interest.
An Archaeological Impact Assessment including archaeological testing was carried out by Dr Paul Stevens for AMS in July 2023 (Stevens 2023). Testing revealed a burnt mound spread within the north-west corner of the proposed development site. Following consultation with NMS, excavation commenced in an area measuring 40m x 40m, that revealed a heavily ploughed-out and truncated amorphous-shaped burnt mound spread of heat-shattered stone and charcoal sealing six earth-cut features, two interpreted as rectangular and sub-rectangular troughs, plus a further three outlying associated features that included three small pits and a small burnt spread.
Finds recovered from the burnt spread, trough and plough furrows included a possible chert lithic and several fragments of unidentified burnt bone.
This site was heavily denuded and truncated by a series of narrow parallel furrows.
Archaeological monitoring of a portion of associated construction groundworks took place between 29 October–8 November 2024, which revealed nothing of archaeological potential.
References:
DIER: https://excavations.ie/report/2023/Laois/0032920/
Stevens, P. 2023. Archaeological Testing Report on Cedar Clinic, Mountmellick Rd, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Unpublished report by AMS on behalf of BHA Construction Ltd.
Stevens, P. and Malek. Z. 2026 Preliminary Report on Archaeological Excavations and Monitoring at Cedar Clinic, Mountmellick Road, Maryborough, Portlaoise Town. Unpublished report by AMS on behalf of BHA Construction Ltd.