Burial

The National Monuments Service's description

National monument in state ownership No. 247. Situated on Knockadoon overlooking Lough Gur from S through W to N in an area with a rich concentration of prehistoric monuments. Five inhumation burials were excavated adjacent to a square-shaped prehistoric house site (LI032-022036-) immediately NNE of a later kerbed enclosure (LI032-022028-) with rectangular house (LI032-022011-). Prehistoric enclosure listed in 1912 by Windle as Circle K. The burials excavated by Ó Ríordáin in 1940 (No. E000252).
Prehistoric enclosure described by O'Kelly (1944, 25-6) as following; 'This is the largest circle (LI032-022028-) on Knockadoon its diameter being 102' [31m]. It is composed of two concentric rings of stones placed close together leaving an annular space between, which is filled with rubble. The entrance is on the E side. Excavation by Ó Ríordáin showed that there had been four wooden posts terminating the ends of the circle at the entrance passage'.
Grogan (1987, 336-42) gave the following account of the 1940 excavation results; 'According to Professor Ó Ríordáin, in a typescript report of 1940, the earliest activity at Circle K (LI032-022028-) consists of a small number of inhumation burials on the north eastern side of the site immediately outside the enclosure wall. However, apart from burial 2, which appears to have underlain one of the post-holes of the square house (No. 1, see below), there is no clear evidence that the burials pre-date the house itself. Nos 3 and 4 do appear to be earlier than the enclosure wall, while No. 1 may have been inserted into the habitation layer overlying the house floor. There is no information to indicate the relative stratigraphical position of burial 5, but it is included here for convenience. Burial No. 1 : Very disturbed; only skull and some vertebrate fragments found at base of an upright of outer ring of enclosure and in upper level of habitation layer overlying floor of House 1 (LI032-022036-). Area covered by burial 28cm by 25cm, no indication of pit. Dr Inkster reported that these were 'a handful of very broken fragments of a child's skeleton. The halves of the neural arches have fused, indicating an age of over one year'. The dental report indicates an approximate age of two years. Burial No. 2: On the south-western side of house, in crouched position, on right side with head to north-east (away from enclosure), left hand close to the face, right hand extended under body, arm and leg bones in a parallel mass close to femur, feet against of femur, patella near where chin should be. Fragments of an infant's ribs and a toe phalange beneath femur were also found. Burial from below patch of rough limestone gravel forming part of house floor. Part of skeleton underlay one of wall post-holes. Burial No. 3 : In crushed heap on flat slab of limestone against which the feet of burial 2 were laid, slat partly covered by projecting stone set in earthen bank supporting the circle uprights. Crushed fragments of skull, some vertebrae and other fragments were found beneath outer ring of enclosure. Some bones, including portions of the skull, overlapped the edge of the slab on southern and western sides, apparently confused with remains of burial 4. Burial No. 4: A few fragments of skull and other bones on adjoining flat slab, at right angles to burial 3 and at foot of burial 2. Burial No. 5 : A deposit of poorly preserved bones, 12cm deep, in a natural triangular hollow in bedrock on northern edge of house, covered by black earth mixed with animal bone fragments up to 45cm deep and about 18cm diameter'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 3 July 2018

References

Grogan, E. and Eogan, G. 1987 Lough Gur excavations by Seán P. O Ríordáin; further Neolithic and Beaker habitations on Knockadoon. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 87C, 299-506.

Windle, B. 1912 Megalithic remains surrounding
Lough Gur, Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal
Irish Academy 30C, 283–306.