Cremation pit

The National Monuments Service's description

In reclaimed pasture 130m N of the townland boundary with Mitchelstowndown East. One of two cremation pits (LI049-014001/002), lying 8.7m apart, identified during excavations associated with the gas pipeline (BGE Ref. 2/20/1). Excavated by Claire Walsh in 1986, the results of which were described as follows; ‘Two unenclosed, heavily truncated pits (topsoil was up to 50cm deep). The area around the pits was cleaned back by machine, under supervision, but no other features were noted. The pits lay over 8m apart. Pit A was 68cm x 55cm and survived to a depth of 22cm. The fill yielded the badly decayed remains of a coarse undecorated pot and abundant fragments of cremated bone. The remains from pit A are those of an adult male’ (Gowen 1988, 84, 180; Walsh 1987, 26-7).

See location map taken from Gowen 1988, 84.

Compiled by: Martin Fitzpatrick

Date of upload: 22 September 2021

References

Gowen, M. 1988 Three Irish gas pipelines: new archaeological evidence in Munster. Bray. Wordwell.

Walsh, C. 1987 Mitchelstowndown East (BGE); Two cremation pits. In C. Cotter (ed.), Excavations 1986: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 26-7, Site No. 52. Dublin. Organisation of Irish Archaeologists.