Flat cemetery in Croagh

Excavated by Emer Dennehy (02E0877) when 'this site was exposed during the monitoring of topsoil-stripping along the route of a Bord Gáis Éireann Pipeline to the West. Four archaeological features and two phases of activity were evident on this site. During Phase I two pits were excavated. Pit I, a circular cut with a concave profile, was 0.48m in diameter and 0.17m deep. The lower deposit consisted of a small amount of limestone and sandstone in a black, charcoal-rich, silty clay matrix. The upper fill was a capping layer of redeposited natural in the centre of the pit. Pit II, a circular cut with a concave profile, was 1.1m in diameter and 0.25m deep. The lower deposit consisted of 10% sandstone and limestone in a black, charcoal-rich, silty peat matrix. The upper deposit was a capping layer of redeposited natural. Phase II is marked by the excavation of a further two pits. Pit III was circular with a concave profile, 0.5m in diameter and 0.16m deep. It contained a uniform charcoal-rich deposit with 10% limestone and a large amount of burnt bone, most of which was concentrated in the south-west quadrant. The fill rose above the level of the surrounding natural and partially covered Pit I. Pit IV, which cut Pit II, was subcircular, measuring 0.37m north-south by 0.61m, and was 0.19m deep. The lower fill was very similar to the surrounding natural and may have been a result of overcutting or been a lining. The upper fill consisted of a small amount of sandstone and limestone in a black, charcoal-rich, silty peat matrix. These four pits, with BGE 3/60/1 (No. 1155 above, 02E0645), c. 10m to the north-west, form part of a flat cremation 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