Cremation pit

The National Monuments Service's description

Archaeological excavation was undertaken by Yvonne Whitty at Rathcoran House (St Joseph's Convent), Baltinglass, County Wicklow within the constraint area for Baltinglass Historic Town (WI027-024----) in December 2018 under licence No. 18E0686. The excavation results were described by Whitty (2021, 15-16) as follows; 'Two archaeological sites were identified; Area 1 and Area 2 within the greenfield area to the west of Rathcoran House. This is an area where a roadway and carparking will be located. Intensive test trenching was completed in this area to confirm the extent of the archaeology identified. The entire footprint of the roadway and parking area was stripped between both sites. All features were subsequently fully excavated by hand.
Area 1 is located adjacent to Rathcoran House in Test Trench 1. A group of two postholes which appear to be joined by a slot and a cremation burial pit have been grouped together based on their proximity and the fact that all these features were sealed by large sub angular flat stones. The most northerly feature was a cremation pit C6 which measured 0.76m x 0.60m and was 0.18m in depth. The pit appeared to have been left open for some time after its excavation as the basal fill C15 was the result of natural siltation. The middle fill C14 was pyre material mixed with cremated bone. Osteological analysis indicates that the remains of an adult and possible juvenile were deposited in this pit. Analysis of a sample of charcoal recovered from the fill C14 identified alder and oak charcoal in pit fill C14 which was used as fuel for the pyre. This sample has been radiocarbon dated to the Late Bronze Age (UBA-43608, 2847+-34, 1118-916BC at two sigma calibration)'.

Compiled by: Caimin O’Brien based on details provided by Yvonne Whitty

Date of upload: 5 May 2021

References

Whitty, Y. 2021 Final Report Baltinglass East Licence 18E0686, Baltinglass East, Co. Wicklow. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Dublin.