What is recorded here

Maddenstown Middle holds two shallow pits where four adults slept before history learned their names. A woman lay alone facing northwest, while three others shared the second hole, their heads turned southeast. They appeared only when farm tools broke the soil in 1974, surrendering bones but refusing to reveal when they died or why they rested together. The earth kept its tongue closed, preserving life without preserving memory.

In 1974, following the accidental discovery of two inhumation burials during digging operations on a farm, the NMI conducted an archaeological excavation (Excavation Licence No. E1086). The graves consisted of two shallow pits (D 0.2-0.3m), one containing the disarticulated remains of an adult female, orientated NW-SE with the head to the NW, and the second containing the remains of three adults; one female and two males. The head of at least one of the interred lay to the SE. There were no associated finds or other dating evidence. (Cahill, M. and Sikora, M. (eds.) 2011 Vol. 2, 340-41) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 07 February 2013

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