Vernacular Archaeology on the N5 Road Project

As part of our work on the N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge road (2019—2021), AMS archaeologists recorded and excavated a series of traditional vernacular houses, as well as sheds, barns, stiles, wells, roads, and kilns dating from between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries. In total 18 upstanding built heritage sites and the sites of 21 vernacular dwellings were investigated in advance of the road scheme. These everyday elements of the historic landscape tell us a great deal about the lives of ordinary people in the recent past. In this video, archaeologist Eve Campbell tells us what vernacular architecture is and explains the different methods used for recording and excavating these buildings. We look at a selection of traditional buildings investigated on the route of the N5 including a thatched house at Cregga, a small earth and stone cabin at Corskeagh, and a three-room house at Cashel. Finally, Eve shows us some examples of pottery and clay pipes, which are common finds from these sites.