Graveyard in Limerick City,englishtown

This is the burial ground represented by the burials uncovered by Frank Coyne in his excavation at Mary Street/Sir Harry's Mall (03E1610ext.) (excavation misc. LI005-017153-) which are probably associated with the nearby abbey (LI005-017115-). Archaeological testing carried out at 57-8 Mary Street and 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall by Frank Coyne, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, under licence no. 03E1610, the results of which were summarised as following; 'Four test-trenches were excavated at Nos 57 and 58 Mary Street and Nos 1-4 Sir Harry's Mall adjacent to Baal's Bridge [LI005-017001-], in advance of a proposed development. They varied from 18m to 24m in length and were 2m in width. Substantial archaeological remains were uncovered in all trenches. The medieval town wall [LI005-017010-] was identified in Trenches 1, 2 and 4, running in an east-west direction. It measured a maximum of 3m in width and was of limestone rubble construction, with evidence of facing, rubble core and a basal plinth. A substantial stretch of wall, also orientated east-west, was uncovered in Trench 3 and this is interpreted as the remains of a post-medieval quay wall. Trenches 1 and 2 both contained a black humic layer overlying the natural clay, averaging 1m in thickness. This layer represents human occupation build-up. The layer was only present in the areas inside the line of the town wall, suggesting that different activities were being carried out inside and outside the wall. Human skeletal remains were also identified in all four trenches, with articulated remains present in Trenches 1, 2 and 3. Architectural fragments, probably from the nearby abbey [LI005-017115-] (now no longer extant), and a single fragment of green-glazed post-medieval pottery were also recovered' (www.excavations.ie). Further excavations by Linda G Lynch took place in 2005 under licence no. 05E0376, the findings of which were summarised as following; 'Excavations were undertaken at the site of a proposed development at Sir Harry’s Mall. The site had previously been tested by Frank Coyne (Excavations 2004, No. 1020, 03E1610 ext.) The excavations were confined between the line of the medieval town wall [LI005-017010-], which ran east–west along the north side of the site, and a later quay wall running parallel at the south. Pile foundations were proposed, in order to minimise disturbance of the archaeological deposits including human inhumations, which had been confirmed by the testing of Coyne. The archaeological investigations were localised to the areas of the pile foundations. The development site measured 37m east–west by 10m, of which c. 33% was excavated. A total of 90 human skeletons, as well as considerable quantities of disarticulated bone, were recovered during the excavation. The osteo­archaeological analysis is ongoing at present. Stratigraphic information indicated up to four distinct phases of burial. Between the two earliest phases the site appears to have temporarily ceased to function as a cemetery. This was determined from the presence of a double row of stakes that cut through the earliest burials. These stakes were later truncated to allow further interments. An extensive stretch of the southern exterior face of the medieval town wall [LI005-017010-]was exposed during the excavation. Although the plinth of the wall was exposed, the actual base was not revealed. No evidence of an external ditch was recorded, although the concentration of the excavations to the actual pile foundations of the new development may have influenced this. It is likely that the cemetery was associated with the nearby Priory (LI005-017115-) of Ss Mary and Edward (the Fratres Cruciferi), which was founded in 1211/12. The burials post-date the construction of the town wall in 1237. The priory was dissolved in 1538 and demolished in the later 18th century. Indications are therefore that the site may have been used for formal burial from the fourth or fifth decade of the 13th century up until at least the 16th century. Some inhumations – in particular a late prone burial – suggest clandestine use of the cemetery after it went out of official use' (www.excavations.ie). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 20 December 2019