Pit-burial

The National Monuments Service's description

This site was excavated (E3502) during 2005 as a part of a complex area know as Site 42-44 of the N11 Gorey to Arklow link. An extensive area (dims. 250m N-S 48-60m E-W) across the road-take was excavated, but geophysical survey indicates that activity extended outside this to the E, W and SW. Situated on the lower NW-facing slope of Ask Hill.
This is a burial in Area C, c. 17m to the SW outside the perimeter of enclosure (WX007-076014-). An oval pit (dims 0.93m x 0.7m; D 0.15m) was cut into the N edge of a tree bowl and contained the crushed rim of an inverted cinerary Urn and a large cremation deposit resting on a stone. There was another cremation pit (diam. 0.55m; D 0.3m) with no pottery just 3m to the E, and both pits may have had marker posts. There were three isolated cremation pits in the extensive area W of enclosure (WX007-076014-), and there were clusters of small pits, some with pottery sherds in this area. (Stevens 2008, 39)

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload: 16 March, 2012

References

Stevens, P. 2008 N11 Gorey to Arklow link: Archaeogical Resolution. Preliminary Report A003/020 E3502 Site 42-44, Ask townland, Co. Wexford. Unpublished report: V. J. Keeley Ltd.