What is recorded here

Twenty-nine people sleep beneath a Kildare field, clustered on the highest ground of a forgotten moated site. They were buried after the hall fell quiet, perhaps shortly afterward, with iron knives, a brass pin and a ring still touching their hands. A horseshoe dropped into their ossuary pit, as if someone wanted a horse to carry them somewhere. Ploughs have since bitten through the shallow soil, truncating bones that once kept a complete shape. The sand and gravel pit nearly took them for good in 2003, but the dig stopped long enough to count each cut and name the dead as persons rather than debris.

In 2003 (Coyne 2006, 239-40, No. 907: Excavation Licence No. 03E1752) and 2004 (Coyne 2007, 195-6, No. 817: Excavation Licence No. 03E1752 ext.), archaeological excavation in advance of the extension of a sand and gravel pit revealed a moated site (KD023-113----) which had a later period of use as a burial ground. Inhumations were recorded clustered towards the centre, and higher, portion of the site and, while they did not appear to be contemporary with the occupation of the site, they may have been inserted shortly afterward. At least 22 individuals were recorded in 20 grave-cuts, as well as in an ossuary pit, which also contained a horseshoe of medieval type. The skeletal remains were in various states of preservation, because of the shallow depth of the topsoil, coupled with intensive ploughing and cultivation, which had led to truncation of some of the skeletons. Artefacts, including iron knives, a copper alloy stick pin, a finger ring and also bone pins/needles, were also recovered. A substantial quantity of animal bones, including horse and cattle, were also found. A further seven skeletons were excavated in the N portion of the site. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 18 December 2012

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