2024:173 - Merlin Park, Galway, Galway

On 30 May 2024 the author was called by the HSE as contractors employed to complete trial and slit trenches for proposed additional surface car parking in an existing green area at Merlin Park Hospital had encountered possible human remains in one of their investigative slit trenches. The trench was inspected, and a human skull was visible in the east-facing section, with disturbed bone visible in the spoil material. This trench was approximately 2m in length north-south and extended to a depth of roughly 800mm with a width of 500mm. The surface (disturbed) remains visible in the spoil included a partial mandible which appeared to be that of a juvenile or young adult. Although it was difficult to tell for certain without further disturbance, the remains initially appeared to be a single complete burial which was aligned roughly north-south. The burial was located at approximately ITM 533655/725657 at a depth of 500mm below modern ground level.

The relevant authorities and the Gardaí were informed. The National Monuments Service confirmed to the applicant that, as per discussion between colleagues in the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) and An Garda Siochána, based on the preliminary observations of a Professor of Anatomy from the University of Galway and subsequent observations of Ms. Laureen Buckley (Office of the State Pathologist), they were satisfied that the human remains identified during site investigation works were archaeological in nature.

Subsequently the author and an assistant excavated the inhumation by hand on 2 and 3 July 2024. A further 5 east-west aligned grave cuts and an extended area of fill (which may represent further burial cuts) were observed in an extended area which was stripped of topsoil and sod. These burial cuts were not excavated or disturbed and were retained in situ after the works were complete. The single excavated inhumation was also aligned east-west.

The spoil material from the excavated slit trench had been mounded in a small spoil heap to the east of the slit trench. None of the spoil from this slit trench had been transported off site.

This spoil was spread on a layer of plastic and sifted through to recover any artefacts, especially stray bone. This work was carried out methodically and recovered a small amount of human bone.

Mechanical stripping of an extended area around the disturbed burial was carried out. The topsoil and sod (C1) consisted of a dark brown, silty clay with moderate inclusions of small stones and loose bone which typically extended to a depth of 250-270mm. Any loose bone was recovered and bagged. Excavation concentrated on identifying burials in the wider area around the known burial. It was agreed that excavation work in the wider area would cease upon identification of additional burial cuts at the level of the cuts so that additional burials could be preserved in situ without causing damage. A further 5 potential burial cuts/burials and an area of fill (F2) where distinct burial cuts could not be identified with certainty were identified to the north of the disturbed inhumation. F5, an east-west burial cut located to the immediate north of F7 (the disturbed burial) appeared to have been truncated by the site investigation trench, but the burial itself was undisturbed. The burial cuts were exposed and recorded and subsequently preserved in situ and covered by a protective layer of sand and geotextile. At the northern end of the excavation area a roughly east-west possible collapsed dry-stone wall was uncovered (F1). This feature may delineate the northern extent of the burial ground.

The exposed skeleton was removed by hand and each individual bone bagged. The human remains were taken into the curation of the site director and provision was made for their secure and appropriate treatment. Digital cameras were used to record individual features, burial cuts and the disturbed inhumation and provide general shots of work in progress. Each feature/inhumation was recorded three dimensionally using a combination of scale drawings and surveying equipment.

The removal of the human remains was carried out with due care and dignity. Dr. Denise Keating (Osteologist) will examine all retrieved skeletal material.

3 Gort na Rí, Athenry, Co. Galway