Remains discovered in Clare may date to pre-Christian times

The skeletal remains of what appears to be at least six individuals, possibly dating back to pre-Christian times, have been discovered during a local authority archaeological dig in Co Clare.They were discovered during preparatory work for a waterworks scheme in Newmarket-on-Fergus.

According to a Clare County Council spokesman, the remains and up to four further possible burials have also been detected during archaeological monitoring of ground works for a water reservoir at Barnhill, near Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Hugh McGrath of the council's water services section said the remains "represent an exciting and potentially significant archaeological discovery".

He confirmed that the council had suspended work on part of the site subject to the issuing of an excavation licence by the Department of the Environment, which is expected to be issued later this week.

Clare County Council is looking forward to further investigation of the site, he added, but they do not anticipate that the discovery will result in any delay to the completion of the scheme within the 12-month contract period.

"However, the remains do constitute archaeological artefacts," he said, "and final decisions regarding their disposal or curation rest with the National Museum of Ireland."

Monitoring archaeologist for the project, Eoghan Kieran of the Moore Group, said a brief assessment of the area had been undertaken by osteologist Camilla Lofqvist to determine the nature and extent of the discoveries. Her results concluded that the remains appeared to represent at least six articulated skeletons with another four possible burials.

"Animal bone was also detected in connection to the burials but no datable finds were recovered. Some of the burials were laying in an east-west direction, which may indicate Christian burial. However, burials in all different directions were represented on the site, possibly indicating a pre-Christian date," he said.

The archaeological landscape around Barnhill wood and Newmarket-on-Fergus in south Clare includes several features from the Bronze Age, early Christian period and onwards.