Sponsored by: AIA-Central Indiana Society, Butler University
This presentation discusses the community archaeology aspect of the Castles in Communities Archaeological Field School and Research Project (CIC), in Ballintubber, County Roscommon, Ireland. While the primary site of the excavation is Ballintubber Castle, a 13th century castle, the excavation also conducts archaeological surveys and history projects at the request of the Ballintubber community. In previous years, CIC surveyed and mapped the cemetery, creating a digital map in ArcGIS as well as a database of all burials within the graveyard. In the summer of 2024, CIC undertook the next step in our survey of the 17th century and modern cemeteries in Ballintubber, the planning and creation of two interpretive signs, both of which include a map.
This is part of a larger initiative of CIC to further engage with the Ballintubber community by fostering positive, scholarship based interactions between archaeology professionals/students and the Ballintober community. This presentation will highlight the Ballintubber Graveyard Project, field school education, and community engagement that CIC undertook during the 2024 field season, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the project, and how we plan to continue in the 2025 field season.