2012:494 - Cadamstown, Offaly

Trial trenching was undertaken at Adara Bridge, Cadamstown townland, with the aim of informing ongoing OPW conservation works by examining the structure of the bridge more closely, establishing depths of existing walls, details of materials used and method of construction. Four trial trenches were hand-excavated at locations chosen by the OPW between 18 and 23 January 2012.
Trial trenching was required to establish the nature of the construction of the flanking walls associated with the bridge. Trenches 1 and 2 were opened on areas of poorly preserved walling on the north-western bank with the aim of establishing the depths of wall or foundation in those areas. Trench 1, excavated at the downstream side of the flanking wall to the north-east, was shown to have no further extant wall or foundation at the point where testing was carried out. Trench 2, investigating the upstream side of the flanking wall to the north-west, was seen to have been constructed on naturally sloping ground, but with a rough setting of stones, possibly as a form of support, at the base of flanking wall near the break in the downslope. Trenches 3 and 4 were excavated to investigate the nature of construction of the north-east and south-west faces respectively of the flanking wall on the south-eastern bank. Trench 3 revealed that the wall was constructed directly onto bedrock, which occurred at a very shallow depth at this point. Trench 4, in contrast, had a considerable depth of masonry wall below current ground level. The depths achieved in that trench, of almost 1.5m, made it difficult to resolve the nature of the stone fill at the base of the trench without extending the area involved. The spoil from the excavated areas was spread and a metal detector was used (Licence No. R296) but no artefacts of archaeological interest were recovered.

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