County: Galway Site name: HIGH ISLAND
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR 21:26 Licence number: 95E124 ext.
Author: Georgina Scally
Site type: Ecclesiastical enclosure
Period/Dating: Medieval (AD 400-AD 1600)
ITM: E 450083m, N 757222m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.543513, -10.262070
In the summer of 1996 a second season of excavation was carried out at the Early Christian monastery on High Island, Co. Galway (first season’s findings reported in Excavations 1995, 35), in advance of a proposed conservation programme for the monastic remains currently being prepared by the National Monuments and Historic Properties Service of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. Three of the eight stone-lined graves identified in 1995 at the east end of the church were excavated. Two graves contained the remains of extended skeletons, while no skeletal remains were uncovered in the third grave. All three were marked by decorated stone foot-markers, and two of the three were also marked by decorated headstones.
In 1995 a small section of paving surrounding the stone-lined graves had been exposed. The full extent of this paving was exposed in 1996. It was composed of large schist flags which covered the entire area around the exterior of the church. Only partial remains of this stone paving were uncovered inside the church, but evidence was found to suggest that originally the interior of the church had been covered by the paving.
In 1995 two small exploratory trenches had been opened inside the church; in 1996 these were amalgamated into one trench as the full extent of the church interior was excavated. The earliest level exposed to date inside the church is a deposit of orange ash, entirely covering the church interior and extending beneath its north and south walls; this layer was fully exposed but only partially excavated in 1996. The remains of a stone-paved surface were evident overlying the ash deposit. This paving is contemporary with the stonepaved surface surrounding the church exterior. The remains of a burial, located on the north side of the church interior, were fully removed in 1996. Two stone grave-goods were buried with the body, one on either shoulder of the individual.
Outside the church the full extent of the inner enclosure wall was exposed. A third season of excavation is proposed for 1997.
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