1994:036 - MAGHERA: Church St., Derry

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Derry Site name: MAGHERA: Church St.

Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 36:6 (in the vicinity of) Licence number:

Author: Declan P. Hurl, Environment Service, Historic Monuments and Buildings, DoE (NI)

Site type: Excavation - miscellaneous

Period/Dating: Undetermined

ITM: E 685533m, N 900190m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.842263, -6.668357

An electricity substation was to be installed beside the east wall of the churchyard containing St Lurach's church. A small trench, 3m x 3m, was opened up on the proposed site, and the excavation lasted two weeks.

The area had been disturbed by modern service trenches and the siting of a stone pedestal. There were traces of archaeological features, namely:
a) two partially-exposed pits, 2m x 0.8m and 1.5m x 0.7m, and a posthole, 0.26m in diameter;
b) a north-east/south-west cut, 1.5m wide and 0.6m deep;
c) a much truncated north-south ditch, c. 4m wide and 0.9m deep.

The dating of these features was problematic, as no finds or organic or charcoal deposits were uncovered.

5-33 Hill Street, Belfast BT1 2LA