By ticking "I agree" below you are agreeing to the use of cookies and to the terms and conditions of use as outlined above. These are also available on the End User Agreement page. For more information see our Privacy Policy.
Downloaded assets must be used in accordance with the DRI End User Terms and Conditions
Total number of assets (1)
This browser does not support viewing this file type. Please download the asset to view.
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 to the southwest of the existing Portlaoise Bypass and running in a southern 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. Contract 3 extends from the townland of Clonboyne to Gortnaclea and consists of approximately 15km of motorway and associated link roads and re-alignments. This report describes the results of archaeological excavation along Contract 3 of the planned M7 Portlaoise to Castletown/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway Scheme at Killeany 2, Co. Laois. The site was identified during archaeological testing of Testing Area 12, Field 218, carried out by Ken Wiggins of Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd on 15 April 2005. Thirty-five trenches were excavated within this field and at least one feature of potential archaeological significance was identified. The site was designated Killeany 2. Archaeological resolution of Killeany 2 commenced on 6 March 2006 and was completed on 31 March 2006, under the direction of Ken Wiggins, ACS Ltd. For recording purposes, the site was designated the scheme no A015/145 and record no E2250. Topsoil stripping on this site revealed a limited number of archaeological features including the remains of an Iron Age house structure (Structure B) comprising a circular slot-trench (F003), measuring 5.35m x 5.24m externally, and the partial remains of an earlier slot-trench, most likely from a sub-rectangular building with rounded corners (Structure A). A narrow drainage ditch (F028), aligned northwest/southeast, truncated the centre of Structure B. There were two other ditches on the same axis, to either side of Structure B. Ditch F005 extended close to the north side of Structure B and could possibly be contemporary with the structure, perhaps the remains of a prehistoric field boundary. It was filled with silty material. Ditch F010 to the south was a levelled field boundary, which contained fibrous tree roots in the upper fill. Finds included a flint arrowhead, which was located on the surface of the subsoil close to Structure B, a Post-Medieval pottery sherd and metal slag.