County: Limerick Site name: CARRIGOGUNNELL
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LI004-015 and LI004-038 Licence number: 04E1476
Author: Tracy Collins, Aegis Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Metalworking site
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 549872m, N 655312m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.646692, -8.740757
Test-trenching was carried out on the site of a proposed development of a dwelling house at Carrigogunnell, Kilkeedy. The development is located immediately outside but abutting the zone of archaeological potential for Carrigogunnell Castle. Six trenches were excavated across the site of the proposed development, varying from 10–20m in length by 1.5m wide. A variety of features were identified in each trench, including linear features, post-holes and areas of burning, as well as three possible ironworking kilns. Finds included iron slag, charcoal and animal bone. Some of the larger linear features may represent ditches of subsurface enclosures on the level land at the foot of the rock outcrop on which the castle is situated. The concentrations of burning, along with slag, and the furnace bottom suggests that metalworking was taking place on the site. Given the density of features identified, it is likely that at least some of them are contemporary with the period of occupation of the castle (i.e. medieval).
16 Avondale Court, Corbally, Limerick
