Excavation

In undulating ground on a gently S-facing slope with good views in all directions within the landscaped demesne at Adare Manor. The discoveries form part of the wider medieval and later settlement within the historic town of Adare (LI021-032001-). The site is 120m to the SW of the old medieval High Street (N21), 250m ESE of the Trinitarian Blackabbey (LI021-032008-) and 330m S of the Augustinian Abbey (LI021-032006-). Depicted on the 1840 ed. OSi 6-inch map as wooded demesne. Inspected and recorded by Avril Purcell in 2017 when a temporary carpark (diam. 120m N-S; 25m E-W) was extended exposing subsoil. A concentrated area of archaeological activity (diam. 40m N-S; 20m E-W) was uncovered at the N end of the site. This consisted of a number of spreads of archaeological material, possible pits, linear features, metalled surfaces and a road. With the exception of some of the metalled surfaces and the road, all of the other features appeared to be broadly medieval in date. The activity was concentrated on a gentle S-facing slope, in an area of noticeably poor drainage. The southern end of the site was dominated by early modern / modern road surfaces, in-situ burning and dumped burnt material. Significant quantities of archaeological finds were retrieved from the N area. The largest concentration comprised medieval pottery (1,652 sherds). Metal objects (64 pieces) and other finds (glass, brick, clay pipe and ceramics 377 in number) were also recovered. The settlement remains extend beyond the area investigated and the archaeological features remain in situ and were reburied. The location is visible on Google Earth orthoimages taken 29/03/2012, 05/02/2009 and 14/02/2020. These earthworks represent the remains of burgage /property plots associated with the medieval town of Adare and is a duplicate record with LI021-032001- See attached Google Earth orthoimages Compiled by: Edmond O’Donovan Date of upload: 21 August 2020