Ballinderreen N.S. 

Fifth and Sixth classes went to visit the Early Christian Graves near Sheehan's Cross, Ardrahan.  A local Archaeologist, Mr. Zachary Silke came as our tour guide. Archaeologists began excavation of the site on January 7th, 2008 because the County Council is going to build a dual carriageway between Gort and Galway City.

 

 The Chief Archaeologist told us about the skeletons and how people were buried at that time. The graves date from the 7th and 8th century. People who died were wrapped in cloth and placed in the grave.

Members of the same family were buried in one large grave. The graves were situated in the south-east corner of a ringfort. In the winter, a Turlough would rise up around three sides of the ringfort and so, to keep the water at bay, they built a small stone wall around it

 

 

 

 

We know that those buried were Christians because they were buried in the Christian tradition, facing the rising sun and Jerusalem. Priests were buried facing their congregation so they could rise up to them and face them as in Mass today. Priest killers, were buried face down with rocks thrown on top of them so that they could not rise. It is not known exactly how these people died, but it is presumed that they died of natural causes. An osteologist was on-site to examine the bones and find out more about the people, their diet and possible causes of death.

 

 

Slab-lined Burials

They have found over fifty bodies and expect to find a lot more. The graves were all different depths and lengths and are known as slab lined burials. This is where a rectangular hole is dug and lined with slabs of limestone. The rocks were used to protect the graves from earth falling in around them and the skeletons were in very good condition after all their time spent underground. Some skeletons were partly crushed by the slabs but were not badly damaged. Only a few of skeletons were articulate. This means that all of the bones were intact and in the right location in the grave.

The archeologists hope to create a digital map of the site so that the memory of these people will not be forgotten