2006:1667 - CLONES, Monaghan

Test excavation and monitoring of works associated with the North East Broadband Project, Phase II, in Clones was carried out from August 2006 to March 2007. Prior to development a series of twelve test-trenches were excavated in the environs of sites of known archaeological sensitivity. On the eastern side of McCurtain Street, to the north of the junctions with Ball Alley and Abbey Lane, articulated human remains were encountered 0.55m below street level. The remains are presumably associated with the ‘wee abbey’ located immediately to the east. By reducing the depth of the receiving trench in this area it was possible to preserve these burials in situ.

The excavation phase of the project involved the opening of a series of trenches throughout the town centre and its hinterland. All of the trenches were located along roads, either in the carriageway proper or the adjoining verge or footpath. There were no river crossings other than at existing bridges. The trenches were 0.6m wide and excavated to a standard depth of 0.9m in carriageways and 0.6m in verges/footpaths. Junction boxes (1.25m2) were excavated where two or more trenches intersected and at regular intervals along long straight sections. A total of 4451m of trenches were excavated during the course of the project.

During the course of monitoring at Ball Alley human remains were encountered 0.4m below the street surface along the southern side of the carriageway near the entrance gate to the graveyard. Due to the shallow depth of the burials and the presence of numerous pre-existing services on the northern side of the carriageway, it was not possible to re-route the trench. Subsequent excavation uncovered seven articulated human skeletons and a small quantity of disarticulated bone. All of the burials were extended in a supine position and were orientated east–west in the standard Christian burial manner.

Unit 3, Howley Court, Oranmore, Co. Galway