Cremation pit

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture 70m N of a stream that marks the townland boundary with Knockuregare. Not depicted on OSi historic maps. Identified as (BGE 3/77/16) in 2002 by Ken Wiggins (Licence 02E0119) during topsoil-stripping on the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West. Excavated in 2002 by Brian Halpin under licence No. 02E0396 the results of which were summarised as follows; ‘A large cremation pit was encountered. This was by far the largest pit found in this landscape of Bronze Age cremations. It measured 1.11m north–south by 0.8m and was characterised by a relatively shallow (0.19m), uneven, U-shaped cut into the yellow/ orange boulder clay subsoil. The cut was subcircular, with a large percentage of medium-sized stones throughout. There were two layers of fill. The upper was a black, peaty, silty clay with frequent inclusions of charcoal and burnt bone. The lower fill was a dark brown, sandy clay with moderate amounts of charcoal and burnt bone. The amount of burnt bone recovered from this feature was quite large compared to the other cremation pits encountered. Although the other cremation pits had small or minute fragments of cremated bone, this feature contained large, intact pieces of varying sizes. It is not known yet whether this is the cremated remains of one or more individuals. Minor fragments of coarseware were recovered (Halpin 2004, 298-9; Grogan 2007, 242)’. Monument has been fully excavated and is not visible on aerial images.

Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick

Date of upload: 20 May 2021

References

Halpin, B. 2004 Ballingayrour (BGE 3/77/7-9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19); Various. In I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2002: Summary Accounts of Archaeological Excavations in Ireland, 298-9, No. 1087. Wordwell, Bray.

Grogan, E., O'Donnell, L. and Johnston, P. 2007 The Bronze Age landscapes of the pipeline to the West. Bray. Wordwell.