Church Island (Lough Carra)
Church Island (also called Shrine Island in Irish Oileán an Teampaill ) is a former island on the west side of Lough Carra in the center of County Mayo in Ireland , today connected to the mainland by means of a primitive dam . The excavation of the square in 1993 provided illustrative material about early monasteries , especially those in remote areas. The remains of medieval churches were found in five layers on an area of around 13.0 × 8.0 m.
The lowest, earliest layer (Level 1) revealed a large wooden structure, which is documented by four post pits . A nine post hole formation is believed to be a different structure. A small rectangular building is defined by a shallow trench and two post holes. There was a large fireplace in the northwest of this building.
Level 2 is defined by a ditch that encloses an area of 8 × 4 m. It contained loose stones and boulders. An entrance was located in the northwest. Several layers of clay were applied at the ground level. A pit, four post holes and five stone foundations for piles were also discovered. A plinth made of several layers of fieldstone lay at the northwest end.
Level 3 is characterized by short intense activities. Some of the foundations from Level 2 have been reused. The western corner was filled with stones. It appears that a fire destroyed the northwest half of the building. A small stove was found at the southwest end.
The building on level 4 was oriented in the same way as that of level 2. The church walls were lost apart from the south-east gable. An ornate sandstone window was preserved in the gable wall. An altar base and a central post hole were recognized as well as a southwest window and the northwest entrance. The building appears to be from the late 13th or early 14th century.
Eight human skeletons have been excavated on level 5. They probably represent the Irish use of the abandoned site as a cemetery.
A total of 22 skeletons come from this place. The remaining finds consist of a selection of iron objects and a variety of animal bones. No finds were made on levels 1 and 3. A small piece of green porphyry and a bronze needle were found on Level 2. From level 4 are decorated bone comb fragments.
literature
- Ryan F .: Church Island In: I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1993. Wordwell, 1994 pp. 59-60.
- Ryan F .: Church Island, Lough Gara , p. 277., In: Nenk, Beverley S: Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1993 (PDF 110 S, 22 MB), pp. 184-293, Medieval Archeology 38, 1994
Web links
Coordinates: 53 ° 42 ′ N , 9 ° 15 ′ W