Cremation pit

The National Monuments Service's description

Identified by Ken Wiggings as BGE 4/2/1 during archaeological monitoring (License 02E1649) along the Bord Gáis Éireann, Barnakyle to Coonagh West gas pipeline (Wiggins 2004, 310). Excavated under licence no. 02E1732 (Wiggins 2002), the results were summarised as following; ‘initially identified as two circular patches of charcoal-rich soil. Eventually, a group of four cremation pits was excavated. The overall dimensions of the site were 3.7m (north–south) by 1.6m. Of the cremation pits, F1 was 0.41m long, 0.38m wide and 0.18m deep; F2 was 0.38m in diameter and 0.36m deep; F3 was 0.54m long, 0.45m wide and 0.15m deep; and F4 was 0.45m long, 0.43m wide and 0.1m deep. The features were filled with charcoal-rich soil containing fragments of cremated bone.’ (www.excavations.ie 2002; 1134, 2003; 1139).

Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick

Date upload: 30 June 2020

References

Wiggins, K. 2003 Gas pipeline to the west Barnakyle to Coonagh West, Caheranardrish, Mungret, Co. Limerick. Unpublished report (Licence No. 02E1734), submitted by Margaret Gowen and Company Ltd. on behalf of Bord Gáis Éireann to the National Monuments Service, Dúchas.

Wiggins, K. 2004 Caheranardrish (BGE 4/2/1) In I. Bennett (ed.), Excavations 2002: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 310. Bray. Wordwell.