Cave

The National Monuments Service's description

This cave (Cave K), one of 26 small caves on Knocknarae, is located on a short, steep slope at the NE extent of the massive cliffs that form the W flank of Knocknarea mountain. The cave entrance is small and low. A narrow squeeze leads into a long, low passage (Wth 0.8-1m; H 0.5-1.5m). The passage ends in a calcite choke 26m from the entrance. At a point 16m from the entrance, a narrow aperture connects this cave with a parallel cave (Cave J). In 2013, fragments of human bone were discovered scattered over a 2m stretch of the passage, c. 3.5m from its entrance. A two day rescue excavation (Licence no. 13E0427) was carried out in November 2013 (Dowd and Kahlert 2014). The excavation focussed on the survey and retrieval of the bone remains, both animal and human, which were exposed on the cave floor. No excavation of cave sediments was undertaken. The human bone assemblage consists of 13 bones. Only small skeletal elements were found, the majority of them fragmentary. The bones represented at least one adult (30-39 years old) and one child (4-6 years old). It was not possible to determine the gender of the individuals. Three bones were submitted for radiocarbon analysis and produced Neolithic dates. The majority of the animal bones (213 in total) recovered represent recent intrusions (probably fox prey) into the cave, but it is possible that a few of the animal bones are older and related to human activity in the cave. No artefacts were recovered. The excavators conclude that the patterning of the human bones indicate Neolithic funerary/ritual activity in the cave. They suggest the possibility that the cave was used as a site of natural excarnation, following which bones were retrieved for final burial elsewhere (Dowd and Kahlert 2014, 17-18). Human remains of Neolithic date have also been recovered from Cave C (SL014-290----) which is located c. 50m to SE.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shuaghnessy

Date of revised upload: 10 September 2014

References

Dowd, M. and Kahlert, T. 2014 Final excavation report for Knocknarea Cave K, Carrowbunnaun td., Co. Sligo (SL014-288----). Unpublished report submitted to National Monuments Service in September 2014.