Multiple human burials found in dig at historic Irish building

Multiple historic human remains have been uncovered as part of ongoing restoration and excavation works taking place at Kilkenny’s City Hall.

The works, at the Tholsel and St Mary’s Lane, are part of a project to develop a new tourist attraction for the city.

Over 10 human burials have been identified, thought to be 600-800 years old. The graves are simple earth-dug holes, and the burial position of the individuals indicates that they were Christian. Most were buried in shrouds, and there is no definite evidence of coffins.

The archaeological team working onsite includes an osteo-archaeologist, who specialises in the archaeological recording of human bone. Scientific analysis, including dating the age of the bones, identifying sex, examining for dietary information, evidence for sickness, injury, or violence, is also due to be carried out as excavations continue.

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Kilkenny County Council has said that conservation and analysis of the artefacts from the excavation will also be carried out. As well as the human burials identified, other archaeological features have been uncovered. Medieval artefacts including pottery shards have been recovered.

The archaeological excavations are being carried out under Ministerial Consent issued by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The excavation is being carried out at the back (east) of the Tholsel in St Mary’s Lane, in a part of the building that was constructed in the 1820s as an extension to the Tholsel. The excavation has identified earlier phases of archaeological activity under the Tholsel extension on St Mary’s Lane.

A layer of 18th Century stone cobbles that formed a yard and path were identified under the 19th Century floor in this part of the Tholsel. The removal of the cobbles has identified that before the cobbles and yard were constructed, the land was previously part of the graveyard of St Mary’s Church.