2002:0700 - BOHO HIGH CROSS, Toneel North, Fermanagh

A small-scale excavation at the site of Boho high cross, Toneel North, Co. Fermanagh, was undertaken in May and June 2002. The excavations were conducted before engineering work to straighten the monument, which had a pronounced lean. Further monitoring was carried out in June 2002 while the Environment and Heritage Service: Built Heritage conservation team undertook the engineering work to correct the tilt of the cross. The high cross is in Boho graveyard, on an eminence overlooking the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart to the west. Ecclesiastical use of this site dates to the Early Christian period. The cross is perhaps 1000 years old and, before excavation, comprised a weathered shaft and accompanying socketed base of red sandstone.

A 1m-square trench was opened to the east of the cross to provide access underneath the monument so that new supports could be put in place. In addition, a small L-shaped access trench was opened, c. 0.2m wide on the northern side of the monument and c. 0.4m wide on the western side. Excavation enabled the full dimensions of the socketed base to be recorded and revealed that it was placed on a hitherto unrecognised, large, red, sandstone foundation slab. Excavation also suggested that the cross was not in its original position, as it was set over a partially excavated charnel pit containing disarticulated human remains and post-medieval artefacts. The most probable date for the re-erection of the cross at its current location is after 1832, when the site was first reused for Roman Catholic worship and a new church was built in the graveyard. The human bone has been transferred to the Bone Laboratory in the Palaeoecology Centre at Queen’s University Belfast for analysis. When this analysis has been completed, the bones will be returned to the Boho graveyard for reburial.

Belfast, BT7 1NN