2024:853 - Curraghbridge 1–3, Limerick
County: Limerick
Site name: Curraghbridge 1–3
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A
Licence number: E005763
Author: Jose Salinas, Marissa Honeyman and Ross Drummond/Archaeological Management Solutions
Author/Organisation Address: c/o Archaeological Management Solutions, Fahy’s Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare
Site type: Charcoal-production pits
Period/Dating: Early Medieval (AD 400-AD 1099)
ITM: E 545275m, N 646939m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.570998, -8.807296
| Curraghbridge 1–3 was excavated in advance of construction of the Foynes to Limerick Road (including Adare Bypass), Co. Limerick. The site was discovered in the townland of Curraghbridge during Stage (i) Test Excavations undertaken in 2024 by Archaeological Management Solutions (AMS). The work was carried out under Ministerial Direction Number A000084 and Registration Numbers E005678 (Excavation) and R000730 (Metal Detection) (Hardy et al. 2025).
The on-site Stage (iii) Excavation Services at Curraghbridge 1–3 were undertaken between 5 and 11 November 2024. Curraghbridge 1 comprised a charcoal-production pit and a system of later agricultural furrows; while Curraghbridge 2 & 3 comprised four charcoal-production pits and later non-archaeological stone drain system. The charcoal-production pit at Curraghbridge 1 was sub-rectangular in plan and measured 2.55m long by 1m wide and 0.22m deep. The four charcoal-production pits recorded at Curraghbridge 2 & 3 were recorded in close proximity to each other and comprised a mix of oval, sub-oval and sub-rectangular shapes in plan. Evidence for intense burning (oxidised clay) and charcoal-rich fills were noted in each case. They ranged in size from 2–2.76m long, 1.1–1.5m wide and 0.18–0.22m deep. References |
Hardy, C., Bartlett, T., Drummond, R., Kelly, D. & Campbell, E. 2025. Report on Stage (i)a, (i)c and (i)f Archaeological Services in Section D on the Foynes to Limerick Road (including Adare Bypass). Ministerial Direction No. A000084. Registration Nos. E005678, R000730. Unpublished report by Archaeological Management Solutions for Limerick City and County Council.