1970:04 - ARMAGH CITY, Armagh

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Armagh Site name: ARMAGH CITY

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number:

Author: Mr. C.S. Lynn, Ancient Monuments Branch/Mm. of Finance

Site type: Church

Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)

ITM: E 687662m, N 845290m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.348750, -6.651610

Excavations were carried out at this site in connection with impending conservation work on the surviving masonry. Soil and rubbish had accumulated within the church, mainly due to burials of comparatively recent date. The limited objective was to clear down to the original floor levels.

The foundation of an altar was discovered at the E. end of the building; it was free-standing, plain, and of slightly trapezoidal plan. Immediately to the south of the altar, foundations—presumably for a rectangular tomb—had been partly cut into the original wall. Two tombs of trapezoidal plan were found, one in the angle of the east and south walls, the other built against a blocking wall of the south aisle arcade. The suspected former existence of a tower was proved by the discovery of its four massive foundation piers in the nave. Small finds, found mixed with the modern graves which had penetrated the original mortar floor, included many small pieces of stained glass and three balls of shot. A fragment of a trepanned skull was found, of 18th century or earlier date.