Cremation pit

The National Monuments Service's description

Testing was carried out by David Bayley of Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd under licence No. E2674 as part of an archaeological mitigation programme associated with the N6 Kilbeggan to Athlone dual carriageway. The site was identified during testing undertaken by Fintan Walsh of IAC Ltd in August 2005 (A016/029). The site was excavated in February 2006. An excavation area measuring 30m by 20m was opened. The site comprised one small pit that contained charcoal-rich silty clay and some heat-affected stone. The pit was 1.05m in length, 0.58m in width and 0.28m in depth. It was orientated north-east/south-west. No function could be determined for it. The remainder of the activity on site was all deemed to be post-medieval in nature. It comprised three north-east/south-west-oriented linear features that were probable boundaries or cultivation furrows and eight north-west/south-east-oriented linear cultivation furrows. Further features included two pits, possible bush boles (which were cut into one of the north-east/south-west-oriented furrows) and a small charcoal spread, all of which were probably caused by field clearance burning. Finds included a single iron object and several pieces of clay-pipe stem (Bennett 2010, 572).

Compiled by Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload/revision: 10 November 2011