2025:593 - Carndonagh churchyard, Churchland Quarters, Donegal

The test excavation of a site in advance of its development in Churchland Quarters townland, on the western outskirts of Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, was carried out on 30 August 2025. The proposed development consisted of the erection of a small building to include a meeting room and toilet facilities. The testing was necessary as the proposed development site was located adjacent to a graveyard (RMP DG011-035006), which is part of the Carndonagh complex which is a National Monument (No. 271). The testing was carried out as part of the planning process.

The site was overgrown with grass and trees. A concrete plinth, on which stood a primary school in the second half of the 20th century, was located within the site.

The testing consisted of the excavation of four trenches, located to best cover the area of the proposed development site that was accessible. The trenches measured 19.9m, 2.9m, 2.9m and 4.3m long respectively; 1.2-1.5m wide and 0.55-0.9m deep.  The spoil from each trench was checked for artefacts and was the subject of a metal detection survey.

The stratigraphy revealed during the testing consisted of an organic build-up on the surface, above a gravelled surface and modern fill, above topsoil, above natural subsoil.

The testing revealed activity associated with the primary school, i.e. the gravelled surface and the fill below it, along with a man-hole, ceramic sewer pipes and a water service. Only modern artefacts were found in the fill and in the topsoil.

Nothing of archaeological significance was in evidence.