2010:570 - Boyle Abbey, Roscommon

As part of the ongoing conservation works at Boyle Abbey, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, a fourth phase of excavations at the site was carried out over two weeks in May 2010 (Excavations 2006, No. 1710; Excavations 2007, No. 1479; Excavations 2008, No. 1022). The excavation was located at the west end of the church and involved the removal of an unexcavated baulk of material from the south-west end of the Phase I excavation area (2006).
A large portion of the excavation area was occupied by the west wall of the church (F42), which measured 2.37m in width (east–west) and 1.24m in height. To the west of F42 a stone structure (F25), which abutted the latter, had been partially excavated in 2006. The remainder of this feature was excavated in 2010 and was found to consist of a rectangular stone structure built around a stone-capped drain. The drain (F59) and F25 are contemporary, as the drain ope is integral to the southern wall of F25. While the stone structure is later than the west wall of the church, it is likely that both the drain and the surrounding walls are medieval in date and were constructed to facilitate the drainage of water from the site and also perhaps to service the drain. A bone knife handle was recovered from the fill of the drain.
Later features in this area consisted of an earth-cut ditch (F604) located to the west of F25. This feature was only partially excavated and extended further to the west outside the limit of excavation. The ditch appeared to be orientated north–south and may be contemporary with a ditch excavated further to the east in 2008. As with the previously excavated ditch, F604 pre-dated a cobbled surface which is likely to date to the 17th–18th century.
One articulated burial was uncovered during this phase of excavations. The burial is likely to be post-medieval in date as it was exposed above post-medieval layers.