The Valley of Dry Bones: Belfast's forgotten burial grounds
Channel: The Ulster Archaeological Society
Date: 2024-01-30

Prior to the creation of the New Burying Ground by Belfast Charitable Society in 1795, nominally the city had three recognized cemeteries: one at Shankill, one on High Street and one at Friars Bush. As part of the 'Market 200' project, a search for a fourth burial ground on the 'Long Bank' (reputedly used to inter executed prisoners) threw up repeated references to the discovery of human remains at numerous sites around Belfast. The resulting picture adds a new dimension to the archaeological heritage of the city with potential to transform perceptions of well known spaces.

Dr John Ó Néill is a graduate of QUB and is currently Research Manager at IAC Archaeology where he is leading the Drumclay Crannóg post-excavation project. He has published and lectured on both archaeology and local history, but mainly takes an interest in prehistoric gold and late prehistoric Ireland and Europe.