2000:0882 - COLLOONEY: Old Street, Sligo

In advance of proposed development, a phase of monitored site clearance took place to ensure that only buildings of limited architectural interest were removed. The clearance of topsoil and related modern deposits was also monitored to assess the extent of any archaeologically significant deposits in the area. Previous testing by Linzi Simpson in 1994 (Excavations 1994, 77, 94E0127) revealed the presence of three in situ skeletons and a possible enclosing ditch; however, this testing was limited because of the presence of upstanding buildings and extensive areas of concrete slabs.

The monitoring of this site was necessary to establish the archaeological potential of the ground surrounding the probable 15th/16th-century church and graveyard. The results of this phase of testing confirmed the findings of the 1994 work. The areas to the south, west and north of the church and graveyard were severely scarped in the past, removing all significant archaeological deposits. It was evident from the 1994 testing, and confirmed by the results of recent monitoring, that on the eastern side of the church human remains were buried outside of the present graveyard boundary. Local information also records that other remains were uncovered during the course of this site’s development. However, the remains, while in situ, were very badly truncated and limited to an area roughly 8m by 5m. Intensive examination of this surviving bone-bearing deposit did not reveal any further human remains. Beyond this layer, the ground was badly disturbed by services and the construction of Abbey House. Indeed it would appear that the construction of the basements of Abbey House accounts for the enigmatic feature, thought to be a ditch or boundary, uncovered in this area in the 1994 assessment.

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