Burial

The National Monuments Service's description

In 1999 a human skull was exposed in the bank of the Ward river. This lay within an extensive midden that was exposed for at least c. 40m along the riverbank. The articulated remains of six individuals were discovered associated with late 13th and early 14th century pottery (Brady, & Kelleher 2000, 94). In 2020 erosion of the riverbank exposed further skeletal material c.4m south-west. A trench measuring c.7sq m was opened, centred on an exposed skeleton which was fully excavated. This was a juvenile skeleton aged between 9-11 years at time of death. A radiocarbon date of 1045-1225calAD (UBA-43540, 883±29 BP) was returned. Another burial was partially exposed and preserved in situ. Two possible grave cuts with no associated surface bone present were also recorded and preserved in situ (McCormick 2020). Geophysical survey (20R0098) was undertaken in an attempt to define the extent of the site but did not yield any useful results. The exposed riverbank has been subject to protection works funded by the Community Monuments Fund 2021.

Compiled by: Geraldine Stout

Revised by: Christine Baker

Date of revised upload: 8 November 2021

References

Brady, K. and Kelleher, C. 2000 Windmill Lands, River Ward, Swords. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1999: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 94. Bray. Wordwell.

McCormick, M. 2020 Archaeological excavation of exposed human remains (20E0329), Windmill Lands, Swords Co. Dublin, Unpublished report for Fingal County Council.

Leigh, J. 2020 Geophysical Survey Report (20R098), Windmill Lands, Swords Co. Dublin.