What is recorded here

Ballybar Lower in County Carlow, Ireland holds an oval pit no wider than a man's outstretched arms. Charcoal and small fragments of burnt bone filled the shallow hole, marking a token burial rather than a full cremation. The road builders dug it up in 2009, freeing the dead from dirt and danger. What remains is the shape of the pit and the certainty that someone loved enough to bury a handful of bones instead of a whole body.

Excavated in advance of construction of the N9/N10 Kilcullen-Waterford Road (Excavation Licence number E2621), one of two cremation pits (see also CW012-160----). An oval shaped pit (max diam 0.65m; D 0.13m) containing charcoal and small fragments of burnt bone. This was interpreted as a token burial. (Hanbridge R. and Hackett L. 2009, 4) Reference: Hanbridge R. and Hackett L. (2009) N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme: Kilcullen to Powerstown. Archaeological Services Contract No. 4 - Resolution, Prumpelstown to Powerstown. Final Report on archaeological investigations at site E2621, in the townland of Ballybar Lower, Co. Carlow. Unpublished report, Headland Archaeology (Ireland) Ltd., Cork Compiled by: Claire Breen Date of upload: 10 November 2010

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