Cremation pit

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture 450m N of a Rathcannon Castle (LI039-027001-). Not depicted on OSi historic maps. Identified as (BGE 3/75/2-3) in 2002 by Ken Wiggins (Licence 02E0119) during topsoil-stripping on the Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West. Excavated in 2002 by Kate Taylor under licence No. 02E0498 the results of which were summarised as follows; ‘There were twelve definite cremation burials within the cemetery (1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 27, 29, 33, 35). All were in similar pits, circular or oval in plan and 0.26–0.9m wide, although most were over 0.4m wide. The profiles varied from steeply concave to more conical; some had possible stake-holes in the base. The pits were 0.16–0.6m deep. The fills of all of the burials were similar: fine, dark brown/black silts with a charcoal component of up to 80%. Small fragments of cremated and crushed bone were evident throughout the fills, generally in greater concentration toward the base. Six of the burials (1, 3, 5, 9, 27, 29) were initially masked by a thin deposit of mid-orange/brown silty clay, which made them almost indistinguishable from the surrounding natural geological deposits. One pit (9), the largest feature excavated, produced a collection of prehistoric pottery sherds from the centre of the deposit. Excavation revealed that the cuts of these pits were carefully executed, with smoothly finished sides and bases in the natural geological deposits. Despite their proximity, most of the pits did not cut each other, suggesting that they had been clearly marked during the lifetime of the cemetery. Two of the burials (35 and 11) cut other features. Pit 35 slightly truncated the eastern edge of Pit 33 and was itself partially truncated by a stone-lined field drain that was visible only in the excavated section of Pit 35. Pit 11 was between Pits 9 and 13, cutting the fills of each, including the masking layer over Pit 9. It is possible, given the perfectly central position of Pit 11, that this truncation was not accidental and was intended to create or illustrate a link between the occupants of the graves. Pit 11 had another unusual feature, a hidden chamber cut into the western side of the main pit, undercutting the natural surface. The hole was c. 0.25m in diameter, the minimum size for an adult hand to excavate. A high concentration of bone fragments was noted in this chamber, suggesting that a handful or bag of cremation residue was deliberately placed there. Two possible blind burials (7 and 31) lay at the edges of the complex of burial-pits and were similar to these features in all respects other than the absence of cremated bone and the smaller charcoal component. It is possible that these features were symbolic interments without any human remains. Certainly, the pits appear to have been treated in the same manner as the burials, with Pit 31 being masked. Alternatively, these may represent the holes for timber posts marking the location of the cemetery. The stake-holes (19, 21, 23, 25) were at the eastern and southern edges of the complex. They were circular, with diameters of 0.07–0.1m, and were 0.05–0.1m deep. It is possible that they held markers for the cemetery boundary; however, given the size of the features, any stakes would have been small.
An assemblage of pottery was recovered, both during excavation and from the soil samples (100% of each burial was sampled). Anna Brindley has examined part of the assemblage: 35 fragments from the largest cremation pit, 9. These have been shown to represent a single (incomplete) vessel of Middle–Late Bronze Age date (Taylor 2004, 340-2)’. A radiocarbon date of determination on charcoal from one of the burials gave a date of 1520-1210 cal. BC (Taylor, 2003, 27). Monument has been fully excavated and is not visible on aerial images.

Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick

Date of upload: 20 May 2021

References

Taylor, K. 2004 Rathcannon (BGE 3/75/2); Middle bronze Age cremation cemetery I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2002: Summary Accounts of Archaeological Excavations in Ireland, 340-2, No. 1244. Wordwell, Bray

Taylor, K. 2003 Archaeological Stratigraphic Report, Rathcannon, Athlacca, Co. Limerick, License 02E0498. Unpublished Report submitted to Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government by Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. on behalf of M.C. O’Sullivan for Bord Gáis Éireann.