Burial ground

The National Monuments Service's description

The files of the National Museum of Ireland records that in may 1969 human remains were discovered during clearing operations in advance of quarrying at a sandpit at Carlanstown, Finnea, Co. Westmeath (Cahill & Sikora 2011, vol. 2, 519-20). The remains were found on top of a sand hill which stood c. 30m high, at a depth of approximately 0.3m below the surface. The hill is known locally as Caltragh, and there was apparently a local tradition of a battle at the place. The site was reported to the Gardaí at Finnea, who informed the NMI. An investigation was carried out by Dr Joseph Raftery. The burials appeared to extend over the whole hill. It was not possible to ascertain the disposition of any of the skeletons as most of them had been disturbed prior to Raftery's visit. According to local information human remains had been found at the site for over 50 years, abd 45-50 years ago a plain gold finger ring was found with one burial. No artefacts were noticed on this occasion, and the human remains were not acquired. In 1971 a report was received stating that further remains had been discovered at the site, but the Gardaí were instructed to rebury the remains locally (NMI File).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 8 December 2010

References

Cahill, M. and Sikora, M. (eds) 2011 Breaking ground, finding graves - reports on the excavations of burials by the National Museum of Ireland, 1927-2006, 2 vols. Dublin. Wordwell Ltd. in association with the National Museum of Ireland.