Midden in Drumcliff South

Located beneath the tarmac access road to a public car park, bordering the N side of Drumcliff graveyard (SL008-084002-). This midden was found in June 2020 during archaeological monitoring of works on a water service pipe. A narrow trench (L 140m E-W; Wth 0.25-0.5m N-S; D 0.45m) was opened on or close to the line of the existing water pipe in order to install new piping (McHugh 2020, 1-49; Licence no. E005004X extension). A midden was exposed at a depth of 0.35m below the road surface at the W end of the trench. It was visible as a shell and charcoal enriched deposit (1.80m N-S and 0.50m E-W) in the base of the trench. The remains were recorded but were not excavated and they remain in situ. The water pipe was laid 0.10m above the midden layer and the trench was backfilled (McHugh 2020, 37). Another midden (SL008-084016-) is located c. 15m to E. There is a round tower (SL008-082004-) 25m to NW, a cross (SL008-084005-) 10m to SSE and a high cross (SL008-084004-) 25m to E. The attached images are provided courtesy of T. McHugh: SL008-084017-_01.JPG Ranging rod indicated location of midden in trench SL008-084017-_02.JPG Shell-rich layer in base of trench Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 4 February 2021