County: Longford Site name: EDGEWORTHSTOWN
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0762 AND 05E0762 EXT.
Author: Miriam Carroll, Tobar Archaeological Services, 15 Willowfields, Ladysbridge, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork.
Site type: Possible metalworking site
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 625943m, N 771336m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.691100, -7.607203
Testing of a proposed development site at Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford, revealed the presence of a number of potential archaeological features. The proposed development consisted of the construction of 38 houses and associated services, which were to have a direct impact on the features exposed. Full excavation of the features was subsequently undertaken as an extension of the testing licence.
Excavation revealed the presence of a bowl furnace used for smelting metal and a number of associated linear features. A large linear feature extended through the site and contained large quantities of iron slag. A fragment of a glass bead was also recovered from the fill of this feature. No further artefacts were recovered, however, and radiocarbon determinations will provide a date for the site, which appears to have been used for metalworking.
