Burial ground in Kilshane

Topsoil removal prior to construction of a gas pipeline in 1988 exposed the remains of several skeletons. The follow-up excavations revealed 123 skeletons, many of whom were children and adolescents (Gowen 1989, 17). These were aligned roughly east-west in the Christian manner, many haphazardly placed. Some of the individuals had stones around and under the heads. The presence of 'pillowstones' may indicate an 9th-13th-century date for the site. Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Date of upload: 26 August 2011

A mass burial site, likely from the early medieval period, indicating possible evidence of plague or conflict; its significance lies in the large number of juvenile remains, suggesting a catastrophic event affecting the local population.