Burial

The National Monuments Service's description

Following the exposure of part of a skeleton in a sandy cliff face along the N shoreline of Omey Island a rescue excavation was carried out in July 2015 by Dr Linda G. Lynch, Munster Archaeology (Licence No.: 15E0345). Initially it appeared that just one burial was exposed but careful on-site photography and excavation, together with post-excavation osteoarchaeological analysis revealed that, in total, the remains of three in situ adult skeletons, one of which was male, as well as a small quantity of the disarticulated remains of two adult females were identified. The burials were interred in the traditional Christian manner, orientated west-east with the head to the west. However, no grave goods were found and no evidence of coffins or grave cuts was apparent. A large boulder lying directly over two of the individuals who had been buried together may have been deliberately placed there to mark the spot. Both of these individuals had suffered significant peri-mortem sharp-force trauma injuries suggesting they died as a result of a violent assault (Lynch 2016). Another exposed burial (GA021-039001-) was previously recorded in the sandy cliff face c. 15m to the E.

Compiled by: Olive Alcock

Date of upload: 17 June 2016

References

Lynch, L.G. 2016 Excavation and osteoarchaeological report on excavations undertaken at Gooreen, Omey Island, Co. Galway. Munster Archaeology. Unpublished excavation report, National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Licence no. 15E0345.