Graveyard in Cloonmacduff

Within a possible ecclesiastical enclosure (SL020-21002-). O'Rorke (1878, 98) states that the interior of the enclosure was used as a burial ground up to the end of the 18th century and that 'a row of brick coffins or sarcophagi, of uniform size, such as are often found in the cemeteries of the larger monasteries, was discovered some years since by labourers who were making drains in the place'. No visible traces of the graveyard, or the possible church (SL020-210001-) associated with it, are evident. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Following a storm in January 2015, a large beech tree fell at the location marked on the 1913 OS 6-inch map as 'Kilederdaowen', believed to be the site of a graveyard (SL020-210003-) and a possible ecclesiastical enclosure (SL020-210002-). Part of a human skeleton was brought up encased in the soil adhering to the mass of roots. A rescue excavation (Licence no. 15E0242) was carried out on 14th-16th May 2015 by Dr. Marion Dowd (IT Sligo) on behalf of the National Monuments Service. Bones were retrieved from the exposed root system and from the base of the hole created by the felled tree. The bones derived from one adult individual, a male aged between 17-20 years. The body was in an extended supine position, orientated east-west, with legs to the east and head to the west. Hand bones were recovered in the pelvic region indicating that the hands were originally either by the side or were crossed on the pelvis. Cut marks on the hand bones and ribs revealed that prior to his death the young man suffered violent injuries inflicted by a sharp bladed implement, possibly a knife or sword. Radiocarbon analysis of a bone sample indicates that he died sometime between the early 11th and early 13th century (calibrated 1028-1206 AD - 2 sigma). No trace of a grave cut was apparent and no artefacts were recovered. There were no indications of other burials. (Unpublished final excavation report submitted to NMS by Dr. Marion Dowd, October 2015; Dowd and Lynch 2016). Date of revised upload: 3 February 2016