Burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

Human burials probably representing the former graveyard of the extra-mural suburban church dedicated to St James (KK019-026065-) uncovered in archaeological monitoring (12E0158) by Patrick Neary at St James's Green (NIAH 12005004) (Neary 2012, https://excavations.ie/report/2012/Kilkenny/0023397/
and unpublished report). St James's Green was constructed in its present guise in the early 20th century and is situated 200m outside (W of) the Hightown town wall and on the reputed site of St James's chapel, which served the suburb of the same name and was demolished in the mid-14th century by the then bishop of Ossory, Richard Ledrede (Farrelly et al. 1993, 52). Monitoring of a service trench brought to light the skeletal remains of five individuals in the centre of the Green (Neary 2012). Intercutting of burials and disarticulated bone were suggestive of a much more extensive densely-packed cemetery. The burials were dated by the excavator to the 14th century on the basis of Highhays Ware pottery in the grave-fills. Most of the exposed remains were preserved in situ.

Compiled by: Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Date of upload: 4 November 2020

References

Farrelly, J., O'Reilly, B., and Loughran, A. 1993 Urban archaeological survey - county Kilkenny (2 vols.). Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Neary, P.H. 2012 James's Green, Kilkenny. Licence no. 12E0158. Excavations.ie: database of Irish excavation reports https://excavations.ie/report/2012/Kilkenny/0023397/ accessed 31 July 2020.

Neary, P. H. 2012 Report on archaeological monitoring of renovation works at James's Green, Kilkenny City. Licence: 12E0158. Unpublished report.