Ecclesiastical enclosure

The National Monuments Service's description

Situated on generally level ground on the W bank of the River Rine with a slight slope to the E. Listed as earthwork complex in the SMR (1992) and the RMP (1996). Curving field boundaries on the 1840 OS 6-inch map show St. Finghin’s church (CL042-027003-) to be centred within a subcircular area (130m NE-SW; 100m NW-SE) with the River Rine completing the circle NE-S. Present field walls to the W and N retain this curve. A survey of earthworks in this area in 1982 (SMR file) concluded that some of them were the remains of modern structures and possibly natural ridges. It was noted that the area may be associated with the settlement (CL042-027----) around Quin Abbey (CL042-027002-) on the E side of the river. Test trenching to the immediate N and E of St Finghin’s church (Carey 2003, 21, no. 89; Carey 2004, 51, no. 197; Licence no. 01E0573) uncovered disarticulated human bone and three skeletons oriented E-W indicating that the medieval graveyard also extended to this side. The line of a proposed pathway was altered on foot of this discovery. Several other trenches in the area produced no archaeological material.

Compiled by: Mary Tunney

Date of upload: 31 October 2018

References

Carey, A. 2003 Quin Friary, Quin. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2001: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 21, No. 89. Dublin. Wordwell.

Carey, A. 2004 Quin Friary, Quin. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2002: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 51, No. 197. Dublin. Wordwell.