Human remains found at site of new link road

Chris Donegan • Published 5 Jul 2012 13:00 2 Comments

Share this

Archaeologists at work excavating a crannog on the Cherrymount Link route.

Human remains have been found by archaeologists excavating a crannog on the route of the new Cherrymount Link Road in Enniskillen.

A crannog is a type of ancient lough dwelling. Most are circular structures that seem to have been built on artificial islands as individual homes to accommodate extended families.

According to the DRD (Department of Regional Development), which is building the new by-pass: "Roads Service has been aware for some time of the presence of an historic crannog site on the line of the new Cherrymount Link Road in Enniskillen.

"In consultation with NIEA (Northern Ireland Environment Agency), the site is being resolved by a team of archaeologists who are currently on site," it added.

NIEA is responsible for preserving ancient monuments and buildings.

A DRD spokesman explained: "The Medieval site, at least 700 years old, has revealed evidence of its timber-and-soil construction, as well as a wicker-walled structure, possibly a house. It has also produced fragments of mill stones, wooden plates, small crucibles for metal-working, vast quantities of pottery and even pieces of cloth and part of a wooden plough.

"Some human remains were discovered, though it is thought that this was not their original burial place," the spokesman added.

"Two arrowheads found on the site, and dating to 3,000 or 4,000 years ago, were probably brought in accidentally with soil to build up the crannog," he explained.

"The work of the archaeologists is expected to continue over the summer. To date, a number of items of archaeological significance have been found and many will require further verification through laboratory testing, which will be carried out on completion of their site works," he said.

The excavations are not expected to interfere with the completion of the new road. "Work is well advanced on the adjoining new length of carriageway which links this roundabout to the Coa Road," said the spokesman.

"Road widening of the existing Cherrymount Link Road to the north of the scheme is also progressing well and the treatment of lengths of poor ground throughout the scheme has now been substantially completed," he added.

"The new road remains on target for completion and opening to traffic in early 2013," he stated.

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 05 Jul 12

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

patrish
1 post
Jul 18, 19:44
Report comment

Oh for Pete's sake - go around it. Don't destroy your past. Your history is much more valuable than paying for a few extra miles of concrete.

Recommend? Yes 12 No 2
TheClareman
1 post
Jul 23, 12:30
Report comment

The thing that separates us from the rest of the world is the fact that there is history on our island that certainly sets the Irish apart from the rest of the planet. Destruction of this site is not warranted. Either the road must be moved, or proper time must be given to secure these national treasures. We can put off the so called "progress" in order to retain the rich historical finds here for future generations to enjoy, study and understand. Desecration of these lands will most assuredly ruin our chances to fully understand our ancestral past in its' entirety.

Recommend? Yes 5 No 2
******
Jul 24, 09:24
Report comment

This comment has been removed by a moderator

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.