Burial

The National Monuments Service's description

In January 2011 ancient human skeletal remains were found lying on a rocky shoreline, c. 60m S of Cahermore cliff-edge fort (SL016-001001-). The discovery was reported to the Gardaí, and subsequently to the National Museum of Ireland, who carried out an excavation on 17th January 2011 to record and retrieve the remains (Halpin 2011). The burial was located on or within a sloping ramp-like deposit of silty, stony soil, which was partly covered with storm beach deposit, large limestone blocks, and broken slabs of concrete, which had been dumped on the shore in recent years.
The extended skeleton was oriented on a NE-SW axis, with the head to the SW. The skull was missing, except for a fragment of mandible (jaw), and the left arm and most of the legs were also missing. No trace of a grave cut or structure was found: The excavator received the impression that the body was placed on a stony, silty deposit and then covered with further stones (Halpin 2011).
Osteological analysis of the bones determined that the skeleton was that of a man, 35-45 years at the time of death, approximately 170cm (5 feet 7 inches) in height during life. He had endured poor dental health, including calculus build-up and periodontitis. Evidence of dental enamel hypoplasia indicated that he might have suffered an illness or period of malnutrition during childhood. He also had low-grade osteoarthritis in the left hip and an os acromiale lesion in the left shoulder blade, both conditions suggesting wear and tear of the bones due to a relatively active lifestyle. Periosteal reactions noted in the left ankle may reflect an injury or possibly an instance of infectious disease, which was still active at the time of the man’s death (Keating 2011).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 29 November 2022

References

Keating, D. 2011 An Analysis of the Human Skeletal Remains from Carrowhubbock, Co. Sligo. Unpublished report submitted to the National Museum of Ireland.

Halpin, A. 2011 Human remains at Carrowhubbuck South, Co. Sligo (IA/4/2011) Unpublished report, National Museum of Ireland