Ancient public graves and monastery ruins discovered at planned guesthouse site in Central Dublin, The Mirror reports on July 8.
At a construction site in the centre of Dublin, where a guesthouse was planned, remains of communal graves and the ruins of an abbey (Catholic monastery) dating back to the Middle Ages have been found. The excavation, as reported by The Mirror, revealed over 100 skeletons believed to be over a century old, with one of them estimated to be more than a hundred years older than the famous Christ Church Cathedral.
At least two graves can be traced back to the early 11th century. Additionally, fragments of a building known as Dutch Billies, which was erected by migrants following the arrival of William of Orange on the throne in the 1700s, were also discovered within the area.
The skeletal remains will undergo further excavation, cleaning, and subsequent analysis before being entrusted to the National Monuments Service. Edmond O'Donovan, the director of Courtney Derry Heritage Consultancy, discussed the significance of the findings related to the excavation work.
"The abbey of St. Mary's was once the largest and most significant in Ireland during the Middle Ages," he said.
Following its dissolution by Henry VIII in 1540, it was abandoned and later became the site of a Presbyterian place of worship in the 17th century. According to O'Donovan, one of the intriguing discoveries is considered ancient burial grounds.
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