THE NORTHERN Ireland Environment Agency has confirmed it is to carry out a site inspection survey of land around Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast to identify possible graves in which non-baptised babies were interred.
Archaeologists using special radar equipment are to begin work today at the site to identify possible graves of the infants and other people. The work is being undertaken on behalf of the agency by the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork at Queen’s University, Belfast.
The agency was asked by the Catholic Church’s Down and Connor diocese on behalf of the trustees of Milltown Cemetery to use its expertise to clarify what area was used in the past for the burials.
The lands to be investigated are leased by the Ulster Wildlife Trust who obtained them from the Diocese of Down and Connor and are outside the present legal boundaries of the cemetery.
“We are undertaking an archaeological investigation of these lands to help clarify what area is likely to have been used for human burial in the past,” explained agency assistant director of built heritage Dr John O’Keeffe.
“We recognise the sensitive nature of the issues that have been raised about the present use of these lands, and therefore we will conduct a survey that does not involve any archaeological excavation. We will not be digging up any graves that are identified,” he added.
“This is a special case where archaeological expertise can be used to help inform the future management of lands at Milltown Cemetery and the Bog Meadows. The results of this archaeological investigation will be made publicly available. Given the sensitivities around this, particularly for the families involved, I would urge that the team be allowed to carry out this survey without any interference.”
