Let me know if they find any McKeevers. (You can tell them by the big smiles on their faces.) Happy holidays! Phil Crowther Sylvia and Colin Moore wrote: >03 December 2003 >MORE than 500 skeletons are being analysed, following a ghoulish discovery near a Donegal resort popular with Ulster holidaymakers. > >What is believed to be an ancient church and burial ground was uncovered during work on a new by-pass between Bundoran and Ballyshannon. > >Archaeologists believe the site at Station Road, Ballyshannon, dates back to medieval times, possibly to the Norman invasion. > >The ancient remains are now being analysed by experts from the company, Irish Archaeological Consultancy. > >IAC are preparing a report before the remains are passed on to the National Museum of Ireland. > >It is believed that another 100 skeletons are set to be excavated, in addition to the 500 already discovered. > >The remains could be reinterred near the original site, or if they appear significant they could be retained by the National Museum for an extended period. > >A spokesman for Donegal County Council said that along with the skeletons, what appeared to be part of a church and a set of rosary beads had been uncovered. > >"If this is the case it will be interesting as it will mean that this is a proper burial site of which there is no record locally. > >"Nationally the site would be fairly typical of a burial from this medieval period, but is quite significant for the Ballyshannon area as there is nothing in local historical records about it," he added. > >The dig has not delayed work on the by-pass, which is expected to recommence on January 5. > >Another interesting find along the route of the by-pass indicates possible stone age activity, but the discovery is not uncommon and should be dealt with quickly. > > > > >==== DONEGALEIRE Mailing List ==== >Visit my Donegal Homepage at: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~donegaleire/ > >============================== >To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: >http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > > >