Archaeologists in Longford town discover 500-year-old graves
Published Date: 14 August 2009
By Ailbhe GillespieArchaeologists excavating at Mullagh on the outskirts of Longford town have discovered a 500-year-old unmarked graveyard filled with the remains of at least 40 individuals.
Several other archaeological sites have also been discovered by the team working for the NRA including an Iron Age Smelting Pit, a cereal-drying kiln, an isolated pit and postholes located in the graveyard and a Fulacht Fiadh.
Evidence of the anc
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ient remains was first discovered last October during test excavations for the proposed N5 Longford Bypass and a team of 15 archaeologists from Cultural Resource Development Services Ltd are presently carrying out a full excavation, under the instruction of Mandy Stephens, the Site Director.
Deirdre McCarthy, the NRA Project Archaeologist, explains: "Four previously unknown archaeological sites were uncovered as part of the investigation. Three of these sites are in the townland of Mullagh and the initial investigations indicated these sites consisted of a metalworking site, a graveyard and an isolated pit. In the townland of Aghareagh, a Fulacht Fiadh was also discovered. The metalworking site consists of a bowl furnace and associated features. It has been dated to the Iron Age (409-386 BC)."
The graveyard was the most interesting part of the discovery for the team in that there was no evidence of its existence before the NRA's team began test excavations.
"The graveyard site consists of the remains of at least 40 individuals, both adults and juveniles and the graves probably extend beyond the limits of the road take," Deirdre commented. "Preliminary dating of the graves indicates that the graveyard was in use between 1468 and 1648 AD. This graveyard was unknown before test trenching of the route and was not evident on early maps of the area."
The existence of this hidden ancient graveyard has baffled the archaeologists working on the site as there were already several other graveyards in use in Longford town at the time. Deirdre feels that they may have been connected with Mullagh House or a castle which was located nearby.
The team found a marking of Mullagh House on a map dated around 1650 and the graveyard was in use up until circa 1648 AD.
"The man who owned Mullagh House at the time (John Kennedy) also owned a lot of land in the area and we think the graves might be in some way associated with this historic house," Deirdre explained.
"It's all quite mysterious though. The graves date to what was a turbulent time in Longford's history with the plantation of Longford occurring between 1620 and 1621. We spoke to Canon David Catterall and he said that they have full records of all the rectors in the area from 1420AD onwards except for the years that this graveyard was in use."
There is however evidence that the graves found by the archaeologists were made by a Christian people as all of the remains have been buried in an east west direction.
The full article contains 498 words and appears in Longford Leader newspaper.
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* Last Updated: 12 August 2009 12:48 PM
* Source: Longford Leader
* Location: Longford
http://www.longfordleader.ie/news/Archaeologists-in-Longford-town-discover.5543837.jp