Flat cemetery in Croagh

Excavated by Emer Dennehy (02E0645) when 'the site was exposed during monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the route of a Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West. A single cremation pit, an irregular pit and a marker post were identified. The underlying boulder clay was cut by the small subcircular cremation pit, which measured 0.7m north-south by 0.6m and was 0.33m deep. The fill consisted of 10% sandstone and limestone in a dark grey, silty clay matrix with a large amount of burnt bone and some small charcoal pieces concentrated in the centre. It is believed to have had a central capping stone, which was removed during topsoil-stripping. The post, which was circular with a conical profile, was 0.37m in diameter and 0.43m deep. The basal/outer fill consisted of 10% limestone in a mid-grey/brown silty clay matrix. The upper/inner fill consisted of 10% limestone in a black silty clay matrix with a moderate amount of charcoal. The irregular three-sided pit, which measured 0.44m south-west/north-east and was 0.15m deep, contained two distinct deposits. The lower fill was composed of 10% limestone in a dark brown, silty clay matrix. The upper fill contained a very small amount of charcoal, which proved to be shallow and concentrated on the surface. The shape and fill of this cut indicate that it is a result of the disturbance of limestone boulders in the area; it was subsequently filled with burnt material and is non-archaeological in nature. This site is c. 10m to the south-east of additional cremation burials BGE 3/60/2 (No. 1156 below, 02E0877). Though initially given separate numbers, these sites should be interpreted as a single cemetery.' This description is posted on the web at the following internet address (accessed 3 August 2012): http://www.excavations.ie/ Compiled by: Denis Power Date of Upload: 8 August 2012

A Neolithic cremation burial; significant as part of a wider funerary landscape associated with early farming communities in Ireland.