A piece of an adult’s tooth is among items found in the first six weeks of the excavation of the former mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway.
The works aim to recover and analyse the remains of what are believed to be nearly 800 infants buried at the site.
The dig has so far been focused on a former workhouse yard and the eastern boundary wall, and has also found large amounts of animal bone, and some personal items including shoes and spectacles.
The works are expected to continue for at least two years.
It’s part of the first update from the Director of the Intervention Daniel MacSweeney, since breaking the ground at former Catholic institution for unmarried mothers six weeks ago.
Excavation findings to date from the Director of Authorisation Intervention Tuam :
The excavations have uncovered materials from four main eras in the site’s history:
- Post-institutional: 1961 onwards, i.e. the period since the Mother and Baby Institution ceased operating at this site.
- Institutional: 1925 to 1961, i.e. the period during which the Mother and Baby Institution was operational.
- Military: 1918 to 1925. During the War of Independence and Irish Civil War era, the location was used first by the British Army and then by the Irish National Army.
- Workhouse: 1841 to 1918. The building was originally built as a workhouse in 1841.
In both locations where excavations have taken place to date, objects from all of these periods were identified and recovered, as well as objects from earlier ancient and unrelated dates. In addition, the upper stratigraphy of the site is composed of a modern topsoil closely associated with construction deposits from the 1970s. This highlights the complexity of the site and confirms the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam’s (ODAIT’s) expectations that materials found at the site would date from several different eras.
Notable evidence recovered to date:
Structures
A circular subterranean feature was located. It is consistent with the location of a “pump” from the 19th century mapping. The southeastern wall of this yard was also identified as the excavation continued west. These were expected in this area as they are indicated on historic Ordnance Survey mapping. Excavation of these features is ongoing.
Material evidence
The Test Trenches uncovered numerous personal items dating from the institutional era, including shoes, spectacles and glass baby bottle feeders. The lower soil layers in these trenches contained glass bottles, likely of pre-institutional date, possibly military era, and a chamber pot. Ancient and unrelated material (medieval pottery) has also been found mixed through the more recent deposits.
Human remains
ODAIT expert osteoarchaeologists confirmed that a single fragment of a dissociated human adult tooth has been found in the upper stratigraphy. This is currently undergoing analysis. This recovery is testament to the detailed methods that are being used on the site.
Animal bone
Large amounts of animal bone have been retrieved. Much of this is likely from the institution, military and workhouse kitchens.
All evidence recovered is being photographed, catalogued and retained by ODAIT.
The excavation continues.
Mortuary and temporary offsite facility
The OPW has entered into a licence agreement with the HSE that will enable ODAIT to use a part of the HSE’s Toghermore campus outside of Tuam for its mortuary facility, where forensic analysis of any human remains and evidence recovered from the Tuam site will take place. Works to adapt the facility for ODAIT’s needs are in the planning stage. In the interim, ODAIT is using a temporary offsite facility located in Headford, Co. Galway for the storage and initial forensic analysis of some items recovered from the Tuam site.
For more information about the excavation and recovery programme, please see www.odait.ie.
