Burial

The National Monuments Service's description

Burials were exposed during the construction of a temporary roadway. Subsequent geophysical survey (Licence no. 03R095) and investigation (Licence no. 03E1080) revealed the burials within an inner enclosure (c. 70m diam.) of a large early medieval enclosure (DU011-144001-) and field system (DU011-144003-). Disarticulated skeletal remains were recovered from the disturbed area representing a minimum of twenty individuals, consisting of eighteen adults and two juveniles (Baker 2004). In order to assess the density of the undisturbed skeletal remains an area of 5m x 5m was investigated and ten in situ burials were discovered aligned E-W within clearly identifiable grave-cuts were identified. A perforated stone bead and bone bead were directly associated with the burials. In order to assess the extent of the burials a second area 52m E of the above was investigated. A further six burials, also aligned E-W, were identified at this location. The burials were identified 0.3m below ground level (Baker 2010). The burial ground has been preserved in situ and is scheduled via the Oldtown LAP for inclusion in an archaeological park.

Compiled by: Christine Baker

Date of upload: 4 February 2015

References

Baker, C. 2010a Occam's Duck: Three Early Medieval ‘settlement/cemeteries' or ‘ecclesiastical' sites? in Corlett, C. and Potterton, M. (eds.), Death and burial in early medieval Ireland in light of recent archaeological excavations. Research papers in Irish archaeology, no. 2, 1-23. Wordwell Press. Bray.

Baker, C. 2004 Archaeological Testing of Engineering Pits, Old College, Abbey Road, Howth, Co. Dublin (Licence no. 03E1804). Unpublished report. National Monuments Services, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.