Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

Within the ecclesiastical enclosure (GA103-1390002-) at Kiltiernan. This graveyard, located just to the E of centre of the enclosure, is defined by a roughly square enclosure (c. 30m N-S; c. 30m E-W) which is delimited by a collapsed double-faced wall. A church (GA103-139001-) is located in its SW half. A series of excavations carried out in and around the church by Duignan in 1950, 1951 and 1953 revealed over 20 burials (Waddell and Clyne 1995, 149-203). Apart from one burial with the knees drawn up towards the stomach, all the others consisted of fully extended skeletons laid on their backs (Duignan 1951, 73-5). Some of the burials pre-dated the church and a number of infant and neonate burials suggested that graveyard was also used in more recent times as a children’s burial ground. The limited range of artefacts produced from the excavations suggests a date for the early medieval period, possibly as early as the 9th century, as well as the medieval and post-medieval periods (Waddell and Clyne ibid.).

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 8 February 2018

References

Waddell, J. and Clyne, M. 1995 M.V. Duignan's excavations at Kilternan, Co. Galway, 1950-1953. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 47, 149-203.

Duignan, M.V. 1951 Miscellanea: early monastic site, Kiltiernan East townland, Co. Galway; O.S. Sheet 103 (6" scale). Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 81, 73-5.