1998:103 - CHURCHLAND QUARTERS, Carndonagh, Donegal

Test-trenching was undertaken at the site of the proposed shelter for the Carndonagh Cross to comply with a condition of planning permission. The work was undertaken initially by H.A. King, and R. Crumlish carried out subsequent testing and monitoring.

This is one of the most important Early Christian sites in Donegal; it was founded by St Patrick and gives the nearby town its name. It had erenaghs associated with it until the 16th century. The cross associated with the site is of national importance and, only for the strong will of a number of local people, might have never returned from a proposed journey to Dublin for a Rosc exhibition over twenty years ago. The cross is usually dated to the 7th or 8th century and originally stood in the field on the other side of the road, from where it was moved during road-widening works a number of years ago. Two small, decorated pillars (steles) flank the cross. The site of the early ecclesiastical foundation is currently occupied by a modern graveyard in which stands a Church of Ireland parish church built in the 18th century. Beside the entrance to the church, which consists of a reused 15th-century door, is a carved lintel, possibly from an earlier church. Also within the graveyard is an upright decorated pillar known as the Marigold Stone.

The site of the cross shelter consists of a small field 22m east-west by 10m, on the roadside immediately west of Donagh church. Five slit-trenches were opened, one long trench across the length of the field and four small trenches along the roadside on the line of new underground ESB cabling. The small trenches were c. 0.6m deep, and no archaeological stratigraphy was encountered. The long trench in the middle of the field consisted of brown ploughsoil to a depth of c. 0.5–0.6m, overlying yellow boulder clay. At the eastern side of the trench was evidence of a shallow ditch running north-south. Although there was no evidence of occupation in the field and the ditch had all the appearance of a recent field ditch, it was decided to undertake further testing when the site was being reduced before building works. It was also recommended that a watching brief be maintained on the demolition of the perimeter wall in case there were any worked stones incorporated in it.

Two further test-trenches were excavated by mechanical digger between 16 and 18 November. Test-trench 1 was dug 1.3m south of the long slit-trench excavated by Heather King during initial testing of the site and 0.5m west of the east site boundary. Test-trench 2 was dug 2.4m north of Ms King's trench and 1m west of the east site boundary. Both were orientated roughly east-west. Test-trench 1 was 6m long, 0.8–0.9m wide and 0.5–0.6m deep at its west end (2m max. depth at east end). Test-trench 2 was 5.8m long, 0.6–0.8m wide and 0.6m deep its west end (1.8m max. depth at east end). The monitoring involved the reduction in the level of the site by up to 1m.

The site measured 16m east-west by 10m. The excavation also involved the removal of a drystone wall along the north and east boundaries of the site.

The stratigraphy encountered in Test-trench 1 consisted of topsoil below which was yellow boulder clay over a 2m section at the west end of the trench. The final 4m of the trench at its east end revealed a different stratigraphy. Here, below the topsoil, was a light brown subsoil, 0.2m thick. Below the subsoil was a dark grey/black, stony deposit, 0.1–0.3m thick. Below the deposit was a soft and sterile, mottled yellow/grey deposit, which was 0.1–0.7m thick and was not fully excavated. Below the mottled deposit at either end were revealed the upper sections of two sides of a ditch feature that was not fully exposed. The ditch was 3.2m wide within the trench (its east side was not fully uncovered within the trench) and at least 1.4m (west side) deep and was cut into the boulder clay. The trench was not excavated below 2m (in total depth) owing to reasons of safety.

The stratigraphy encountered in Test-trench 2 was the same as in Test-trench 1. The stratigraphy over the remainder of the site to the west of the ditch feature consisted of topsoil above yellow boulder clay. The topsoil contained a small number of modern artefacts.

The three test-trenches produced evidence of a ditch feature in the general area where one would expect to find evidence of an enclosure associated with an ecclesiastical site. There is also a slight curve in evidence from north-south to north-north-east/south-south-west; however, nothing was recovered from the fills of the ditch that could date the feature. The stone facing around the perimeter was found to comprise rubble.

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