2023:885 - Aughinish, Clare

National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage commissioned the author to undertake the rescue excavation of 26  burials/partial burials located in close proximity to a ruined medieval church, RMP CL003-010—-, in Aughinish, County Clare. Coastal erosion had, since 2019, exposed burials at the site and these were threatened further by spring tides in March 2023. The on-site excavations were undertaken by a team of archaeologist, over a period of 8 days between 24 March and 4 April 2023, under the supervision of osteoarchaeologist Denise Keating.  Extreme care was taken to only excavate burials that were exposed and in eminent danger of being washed away. Areas of the shoreline where the ground had not yet been disturbed by the hight water levels were avoided to prevent further erosion.

Church

On inspection in March 2023 the south wall and a 1m length of the west gable survived, however the south-west corner of the building has been undermined by high tides and erosion.  While the north wall survived there was some collapse evident in the central opening.  The north end of the east gable survived as per the previous inspections in 1997 and 2014.  The west end of the south wall has been destroyed and the interior of the church has been removed at the west end.  Limestone blocks from the church building were scattered to the south, and south of the church building.

Shell Midden

To the south-east of the church a previously unrecorded shell midden formed part of the shoreline.  It extended for a length of 4.2m and was 0.25m in maximum depth.  The midden, which was covered by a thin layer of soil, formed the eastern edge of the burial site and covers some of the burials.  It is likely to originally have extended over the burial site.

Burials

An area measuring c. 15m x 3m was located to the south and south-east of the church. This area was cleared of debris and the exposed human remains were identified recorded and excavated.  Little or no covering survived on the more exposed burials in the south while a mixture of loose clay and stone covered the remainder of the burials.

Boulders from the shore were used to build a temporary barrier between the sea and the burials while excavations were underway.  When excavations were completed the area was covered with a membrane, boulders and stone. Post-excavation works will provide a date for the burials in this area.