County: Laois Site name: KILLABBAN CHURCH & GRAVEYARD
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LA026-013002, LA026-013003 Licence number: 21E0492
Author: Caoimhe Ní Thóibín
Site type: Ecclesiastical
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 668961m, N 685615m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.916939, -6.974602
Killabban Church and Graveyard, Arles, Co. Laois, is a medieval site, in the east of the county. Killabban Monastery Restoration Committee applied for grant funding through Laois County Council, to the Community Monuments Fund 2021, to carry out conservation and interpretation works at the church and graveyard, with works carried out between August and October 2021.
During August 2021 two archaeological test trenches were excavated within the interior of the church, in advance of masonry repair works to the north and south walls of the nave of the church. The test trenches resulted in the recovery of disarticulated human remains. Osteoarchaeological analysis of this assemblage resulted in the identification of 494 fragments of human bone, representing a Minimum Number of Individuals of thirteen adults and juveniles.
Following the completion of test trenching, archaeological monitoring of the masonry repair works and of the installation of two interpretive panels was carried out. This monitoring took place from September to November 2021.
Hillside, Lower Grange, Gowran, Co. Kilkenny
