Flat cemetery

The National Monuments Service's description

This site was excavated (E3497) during 2005 as Site 37 of the N11 Gorey to Arklow link. Situated on the lower SW-facing slope of Ask Hill. Sixty pits were excavated in an area of c. 2000 square metres, but most of the features were in a small area (dims c. 20m N-S; c. 14m E-W) at the centre. The pits varied in size from a small pit (dims 0.4m x 0.23m; D 0.3m) to the largest (dims 3m x 5m; D 0.3m). Many of the pits, but not all, contained burnt material including burnt bone in varying quantities. Some pits had smashed prehistoric pottery, but glass beads and post-medieval pottery were also recovered. Fifty three post-holes and 150 stake-holes were also recorded, mostly at the centre of the site. No patterns were discernible in the stake-holes, but some of the posts may have marked particular pits, while others may have created features used in the cemetery. Mound (WX007-020001-) is c. 150m to the SW. (Martin 2008)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 16 March, 2012

References

Martin, K. 2008 Site 37, Ask. Prehistoric pits, post- and stake-holes. In I. Bennett. Excavations 2005. Summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, 390-1, No. 1603. Wordwell, Dublin.