2025:341 - Darver Graveyard, Louth

Archaeological monitoring was carried out along the north boundary wall at Darver Graveyard, Darver, Co. Louth, as part of stabilisation and reconstruction works by Louth County Council.

Darver Graveyard (LH011-098002-) and its internal (ruined) church (LH011-098001-) are listed in the Record of Monuments and Places for County Louth (1997) as LH011-098—-. The north boundary of the graveyard wall, running along an unnamed local road, also acts as a retention wall. The unmortared wall, and the portion to the east of the entrance to the graveyard, measuring c. 10m in length, had suffered damage and partial collapse. The road adjacent the graveyard wall is narrow, while the northern boundary of the road is also associated with Darver Castle (LH011-096—-), which is also a Protected Structure (RPS ID. LHS011-028; NIAH Reg. No. 13901118). Consequently, there was no option to widen the road northwards, and there was no space to construct a replacement wall outside of the graveyard boundary wall as this would have impacted road safety.

Two test trenches measuring 2m x 2m were initially hand dug along the northern boundary wall in September 2024 under the current licence (see entry 2024:255). Prior to commencement of these works, a detailed 3D scan of the eastern wall was conducted as a record of the wall. Both trenches contained archaeological features, a pit (C7) in Trench 1 and four deposits (C10, C12, C13 and C14) in Trench 2. Following this test trenching, a revised method statement was submitted to the National Monument Service (and subsequently approved) for preservation by record (excavation) of these features as well as archaeological monitoring of the hand deconstruction of the graveyard wall.

Full-time archaeological monitoring of the wall deconstruction began on 9 January 2025 and were completed on 17 January. Monitoring of reconstruction works took place intermittently until mid-February 2025.

The horizontal extent of ground excavation needed for the wall reconstruction was less than anticipated. Thus, the archaeological features identified during test trenching were not impacted and remain in-situ. Five fragments of disarticulated human bone were recovered during the test trenching and monitoring. The remains represent at least two adult individuals based on the number of right tibiae.

Based on both test excavation and monitoring works, as well as the recovered artefacts, the original construction of the wall in the early 1800s likely left a depression at the immediate rear of the wall. This depression, either intentionally or from soil settlement, was filled over the years with grave soil and cemetery refuse. This loose, void-filled ground enabled rooting vegetation to proliferate, causing a negative impact on the dry-stone wall leading to its eventual partial collapse.

All works are now complete and no further archaeological mitigation is necessary.