Burial ground in Loughlinstown

Discoveries of skeletal material and a stone-lined grave had been recorded in the Topographical Files of the National Museum from a site known as Graves Moate at Mount Offaly, Cabinteely. A pre-development assessment in 1995 revealed at least fourteen in situ burials of early medieval date, as well as a sherd of Leinster cooking ware. The evidence suggests an Early Christian date (Gowen 1996, 27-8). Excavations of the site in advance of the construction of an Esso service station was undertaken in 1998. This revealed a complex sequence of burial beginning at least in around the 5th or 6th century, culminating sometime in around the 11th or 12th century. At least 1553 individual burials were uncovered, along with numerous deposits of disarticulated remains and two charnel pits. Generally the burials were laid in the extended position with the head to the west; however, a number were aligned with the head to either the north or the east. Two female burials contained full-term foetuses, one of which was in the breach birth position. A large assemblage of small finds were recovered from the site. This includes ferrous and non-ferrous metal, stone, bone, glass and ceramic. A number of small finds were recovered directly associated with burials, e. g. three bone beads from separate infant burials, several pins including one iron shroud-pin and a number of iron knives. Many artefacts of various types were recovered from contexts such as the enclosing inner and middle ditches. The finds assemblage includes shroud-pins, stick and possible ring-pins, iron knives, shears, gouges, D-shaped belt-buckles, nails, bone and blue glass beads, bone handles and double-sided bone combs, one of which retained both decorated panels (dot-and-circle) held in place by four iron rivets. The pottery assemblage includes fragments of Phocaean red slipware (which derives from a site/town in Turkey called Phocaea, from the late Roman period), Bi amphora, D-ware, E-ware and several perforated 'lids' of unknown origin. Sherds of locally made Leinster cooking ware, datable to the late 11th or early 12th century, were recovered from later site contexts. Along with producing objects interpreted as the mounts and fittings for possible shrines or reliquaries, it is suggested that the site had a dual religious and secular function. This is further highlighted by the large volume of butchered animal bone from the inner and middle ditches and the large (used) millstone derived from the base of the stone-lined charnel pit, as well as features such as the furnace and hearths. The range and type of objects recovered from the site, especially the imported pottery of 6th-7th-century date, suggests that the site is of considerable status and importance. The exact dimensions of the enclosure may only be estimated; however, it is reasonable to assume that within the boundary of the site lies evidence of perhaps a church, ancillary buildings, possible workshops and certainly further burials (Conway 1999, Cahill & Sikora 2011, 28-22). Compiled by: Geraldine Stout Date of upload: 14 February 2013