Burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

In 1997 workmen uncovered human skeletons at the site of the Old Orchard public house, Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, during development at the site. Human skeletons had been found previously in the area in 1950 (NMI). The first edition OS 6-inch sheet shows that the site is situated within a curvilinear area formed by a bend in the old road, Butterfield Avenue, and the surrounding field boundaries which probably indicates the former presence of an ecclesiastical enclosure (DU022-038002-). Trial excavations in 1997uncovered an early medieval phase of occupation which was represented by a palisade trench which produced copper, iron slag animal bone, a penannular brooch terminal, iron knives and a 'pig fibula' pin. The site was subsequently used for burial that clearly related to the boundary enclosure, which suggests that the site was originally ecclesiastical. Many of the burials had stone features holding their heads in place, usually stones to either side of the head. In most cases, these stones were narrow, placed in ear-muff fashion. The site was subsequently used again for occupation in perhaps the 12th or 13th century (Carroll 1998, 59-60, Cahill & Sikora 2011, 458).

Compiled by Geraldine Stout

Date of upload: 26th April 2012

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.

Carroll, J. 1998a The Old Orchard Inn, Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1997: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 59-60. Bray. Wordwell.

Carroll, J. 1998b Vicar Street/58-9 Thomas Street, Dublin. In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 1997: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 55. Bray. Wordwell.