County: Galway Site name: Tuam
Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA029-199 Licence number: 10E0117
Author: Finn Delaney
Site type: Monastic town - burials
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 543543m, N 751983m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.514794, -8.851237
The Tuam Town Water Supply Scheme saw the construction of new trunk watermain, a new reservoir at Slievedarragh and a new water distribution mains system for the town of Tuam, Co. Galway. The monitoring of the test trenches throughout the Zone of archaeological Potential in Tuam revealed the location of some undisturbed potential archaeological deposits. The location of a number of large well-built stone culverts was also identified. The programme of works within the ZAP was completed in 2012 and a full report on all the findings of the monitoring programme is in preparation.
Test trenching along Sawpit Lane revealed the presence of human remains outside the boundary wall surrounding Temple Jarlath. This discovery led to all of the trenches along Sawpit Lane being excavated and the identification of 16 skeletons and a number of related ditches and pits. Post-excavation work on the burials excavated in Sawpit Lane has also been completed and a final report on the excavation is in preparation.
A series of Famine-era burials was identified below disturbed deposits during pipe laying works at the junction between the Athenry Road and the Dublin Road Housing estate. An excavation was undertaken and the remains and partial remains of 47 individuals were recorded.
Eachtra Archaeological Projects – Galway, 124 Caireal Mor, Headford Road, Galway
