Window to the past unveiled during dig at Clone Church
AN archaeological excavation dig at the site of Clone Church near Ferns has yielded some very interesting results according archaeologist, Barry Lacey, who is overseeing the project.
The dig forms part of an overall large scale project based around Ferns and St Aidan’s Monastery.
Towards the end of last year ministerial consent was granted for archaeological excavations to be conducted at the monastery and that work will begin in earnest this summer under the title of ‘Discovering St Aidan’s Monastery’.
However, the ongoing dig at Clone Church has included a geophysical survey and community-focused excavation.
Clone Church is located around 2.5km from Ferns village and the medieval ruins includes the remains of the south and north walls, and the western gable which contains Romanesque features including a doorway with external jambs and chevron carving.
Mr Lacey said the ruins date from the 12th century while the building functioned as a parish church from the early 13th century.
Mr Lacey said there are indications that the church site might have been used for religious ceremonies even before the 12th century.
Archaeological evidence to support that suggestion was discovered in 2018 when crop marks, some of which appeared to form a monastic enclosure, were recorded and identified by Mr Lacey during a drone flyover.
‘ This would suggest the site dates back to between the 6th and 8th centuries,’ commented Mr Lacey.
He also said that would explain other significant features of the site such as cross slabs and bullaun stones.
Last October a geophysical survey was conducted at the site at the request of the IAFS (Irish Archaeology Field School) and Clone Church Conservation Project (CCCP) - which is an initiative of Ferns Heritage Archive Group.
During that survey a number of archaeological features was revealed following magnetic gradiometry undertaken by Ian Elliott, from Irish Geophysical & Archaeological Survey.
Mr Lacey said those archaeological features are ‘ likely to span several centuries’.
The most recent dig at the site took place last month and the coming weeks will see the results of that work being published.
However, Mr Lacey told this newspaper that the dig, which is being conducted as part of the broader Ancient Connections project, has yielded some ‘very significant results’.
‘ The drone revealing the monastic enclosure last year was very exciting,’ said Mr Lacey.
It’s hoped that a field school will open at the site in June.
‘We are investigating this site in conjunction with what we are doing in St Aidan’s,’ said Mr Lacey.
‘It’s all being undertaken under the umbrella of the Ancient Connections project.’