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The proposed M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway Scheme consists of approximately 41km of motorway and 11km of single dual carriageway commencing at the south-western end of the existing Portlaoise Bypass and running in a southerly direction tying into the existing N8 at Oldtown. A portion of the scheme runs to the west tying into the existing N7 near Borris-in-Ossory. The Archaeological Works contract is subdivided into three separate contracts. The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation within Contract 1 of the planned route, at Ballyhinode, County Laois. Contract 1 extends from the townland of Gortnaclea to Oldtown and consists of approximately 14km of motorway, which extends from Aghaboe to south of Cullahill through the townlands from Gortnaclea to Oldtown. The site was identified as a fulacht fiadh during archaeological testing carried out by Eamonn Cotter of Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd in March/April 2005, and was designated Ballyhinode 1. Archaeological resolution of Ballyhinode 1 commenced on 6th June 2006 and was carried out by Eamonn Cotter. For recording purposes, the site was assigned scheme no A015/100 and record number E2210. Topsoil stripping of the site revealed two small spreads of burnt stone approximately 0.15m deep, adjacent to an east-flowing stream. A modern field drain running across the site indicated modern land reclamation in the area. One cut feature under the spreads is likely to be the base of a fulacht fiadh trough. The burnt spreads are likely to have been the remnants of a fulacht fiadh destroyed by modern land reclamation works. No artefacts were recovered from this site.