2022:826 - Kilmocholmóg Field, Lurgan - Season 1, Armagh

Archaeologists from Northern Archaeological Consultancy Ltd, working in partnership with local community volunteers though the Lurgan Township Heritage Scheme, undertook limited test trench excavation at a site believed to contain the remains of an ancient church and graveyard.

The investigation area is named Kilmocholmóg that translates as ‘my little Colmán's church’. This place name evidence, local tradition and previous research, implied that the site may contain the sub-surface remains of an ecclesiastical site. There is a folk memory that a graveyard was located within the field and was in use until the 1840’s when the trainline from Belfast to Armagh cut across it.

Geophysical analysis of the field was undertaken in late 2021 by academics from Queen’s University Belfast, who identified a large right-angled anomaly.

Archaeological investigation of this determined it to be the remains of a partially infilled ditch dating to the early medieval period. Other material uncovered included a subsoil-cut feature, stone rubble that may originate from a structure, and Souterrain ware pottery dated to the Early Medieval period.

Furthermore, iron slag recovered indicates metalworking was taking place within the vicinity of the site.

At this stage it is impossible to determine if the remains are ecclesiastical or secular in nature. In addition to the above, several pieces of struck flint were also recovered from the excavated trenches; their presence may suggest a much earlier prehistoric origin to the site.

It is hoped that the results of this excavation will form part of a wider project design for a larger community archaeological project at Kilmocholmóg field.

NAC Ltd, Farset Enterprise Park, 638 Springfield Road, Belfast, BT12 7DY