Burial mound

The National Monuments Service's description

The following is recorded by Cahill and Sikora (2011, ii, 300-05): 'In October 1992 during reclamation work on farmland a number of human burials were discovered near Mount Nugent, Co. Cavan. The site consisted of a low rise, approximately 2m above the surrounding surface and approximately 20m in diameter at the top. The bones were recovered at a depth of 0.15-0.2m when the bulldozer drove into the centre of the mound. The following day bones were found around the perimeter of the raised area. The discovery was reported to the Gardaí at Kilnaleck, who visited the site and then informed the NMI. An investigation was carried out by Eamon Kelly. . . The site consisted of a mound approximately 30m by 20m across. The bulldozer had made two cuttings: cutting B on plan measured 40m by 8.5m by 0.15-0.2m deep and extended over the southern side of the mound. Cutting A was aligned north-east/south-west and measured 4m by 2m wide by 0.4m deep. Human remains were recovered from both of these cuttings. The burials appear to have been placed in simple dug graves without any stone lining. The level of disturbance was such that it is not clear whether the burials were extended. . . All of the burials were apparently aligned west/east, with the heads to the west. The sample from cutting A contained the remains of at least three individuals: two adults-one probably female-and one adolescent (1992:44). The latter had porotic hyperostosis-probably the result of iron-deficiency anaemia. The sample from cutting B contained the remains of at least eight individuals: four adults, two adolescents, a child aged between five and seven years and an infant who was probably less than one year old at the time of death. The material appears to represent a subsample of a normal graveyard population. In the absence of any associated finds or other evidence it is not possible to suggest a date for these burials.’ Lying by the field boundary to the SW of the mound is a large boulder bearing a crude Latin cross. (O'Donovan 1995, no. 1723)

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Revised date of upload: 20 January 2015

References

Cahill, M. and Sikora, M. (eds) 2011 Breaking ground, finding graves - reports on the excavations of burials by the National Museum of Ireland, 1927-2006, 2 vols. Dublin. Wordwell Ltd. in association with the National Museum of Ireland.

O'Donovan, P.F. 1995 Archaeological inventory of county Cavan. Dublin. Stationery Office.