Pit-burial in Ask

This site was excavated (E3502) during 2005 as a part of a complex area know as Site 42-44 of the N11 Gorey to Arklow link. An extensive area (dims. 250m N-S 48-60m E-W) across the road-take was excavated, but geophysical survey indicates that activity extended outside this to the E, W and SW. Situated on the lower NW-facing slope of Ask Hill. This is a burial in Area C, c. 17m to the SW outside the perimeter of enclosure (WX007-076014-). An oval pit (dims 0.93m x 0.7m; D 0.15m) was cut into the N edge of a tree bowl and contained the crushed rim of an inverted cinerary Urn and a large cremation deposit resting on a stone. There was another cremation pit (diam. 0.55m; D 0.3m) with no pottery just 3m to the E, and both pits may have had marker posts. There were three isolated cremation pits in the extensive area W of enclosure (WX007-076014-), and there were clusters of small pits, some with pottery sherds in this area. (Stevens 2008, 39) Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 16 March, 2012

Pit-burial in Ask is a single burial pit dating to the Early Medieval period. Its significance lies in its association with a broader archaeological landscape disturbed by modern infrastructure, offering insights into burial practices in an otherwise poorly documented region.