Listen: Dig uncovers 17th C remains but hunt for medieval settlement goes on

THE lead archaeologist of a dig at a car park in Londonderry city centre Emily Murray says the discovery of 17th century remains is hopefully only the beginning as the hunt for medieval evidence continues this month.
Archealogist Emily Murray with Dermot Redmond and Brian Sloan at the Bishop St Car Park site where they will be carrying out an excavation.  (DER3713JB033)Archealogist Emily Murray with Dermot Redmond and Brian Sloan at the Bishop St Car Park site where they will be carrying out an excavation.  (DER3713JB033)
Archealogist Emily Murray with Dermot Redmond and Brian Sloan at the Bishop St Car Park site where they will be carrying out an excavation. (DER3713JB033)

Forget Richard III, the team of archaeologists excavating the Bishop Street Within car park opposite the Londonderry courthouse are looking for evidence dating back up to a millienium prior to the notorious English King.

Ms Murray says she hopes to find the boundary of the original monastic settlement of Derry.

Speaking on local radio this morning (Tuesday, September 17) she said: “We’ve just lifted a juvenile skeleton yesterday afternoon and we’ve two more we’ll expose today (Tuesday, September 17), probably adult skeletons,” said Ms Murray.

Archealogist Emily Murray with Dermot Redmond and Brian Sloan at the Bishop St Car Park site where they will be carrying out an excavation.  (DER3713JB033)Archealogist Emily Murray with Dermot Redmond and Brian Sloan at the Bishop St Car Park site where they will be carrying out an excavation.  (DER3713JB033)
Archealogist Emily Murray with Dermot Redmond and Brian Sloan at the Bishop St Car Park site where they will be carrying out an excavation. (DER3713JB033)

“It is significant. We believe these are probably 17th century in date.”

‘Really we want to get below the 17th century,” she said. “It would be wonderful to potentially discover, the boundary, an early boundary of the church, the monastery that was here.”

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