Burial ground in Collierstown (skreen By.)

Situated on a slight N-facing slope with the small SE-NW Gowra stream c. 40m to the SW. This monument was identified in centre-line testing (04E0422) as part of the preparations for the M3 motorway when five extended burials were recovered (Clarke 2004). A geophysical survey identified an outer (diam. c. 50m) and an inner enclosure (diam. c. 20m) defined by ditches (Nichols 2006), along with a ring-ditch (ME038-052----) c. 300m to the NE. It was excavated fully (E3068) in 2006-07, apart from the NW extremity of the final enclosure (O’Hara 2009). Sixty one inhumations were recovered, and four phases of burial activity were noted after the founding burial. Four main episodes of enclosure also occurred, marking its progression from a ring-barrow to an open ring-ditch and finally to an enclosed cemetery, which is now cogently analysed (O’Hara 2010). The excavation provides an insight into the development of the burial place of a wealthy group from the mid-5th to mid-7th centuries, with no evidence of an overt Christian contribution. The inhumation of an adult female with burnt clay, bone and wood charcoal was placed within an enclosure (diam. c. 16m) defined by segmented ditches E-S-W. In this initial phase seven burials were inserted into the low mound of the ring-barrow (diam. c. 8m), and 14 burials around it are closely associated as a second group and confined by the fosse. The ditches were re-cut, probably with an internal bank, and re-cut again as it developed into a ring-ditch (int. diam. 22m). At this stage exotic items begin to appear, such as imported pottery from Gaul (E-ware) and the east Mediterranean (Bii-ware; Late Roman c/Ai ware), as well as a whale-bone sword hilt of sub-Roman type. A third group of at least 26 inhumations extended in the E-W orientation were added in four fairly neat rows with some disarticulated bone from earlier burials. The most easterly row extended the cemetery over the original ditch at E and necessitated a new, crescent-shaped ditch 4m further E that was re-cut at least once (L 19.5m; Wth 1.6m; D 0.4m). A final group of 12 burials in three less regular lines, and including for the first time infants (3), extended the cemetery over this eastern ditch. A small rectangular structure (int. dims 6m N-S; 6m E-W) just N of the enclosure with a wide opening in the S wall opposite one in the ditch of the ring-ditch is probably contemporary and would have served as a shelter and a locus for feasting. The site was now enclosed by a ditch or fosse (Wth 2.4-4m; D c. 1-1.4m) making a subcircular enclosure (int. dims 40m N-S; 35m E-W), probably with an internal bank although a bank was not evident. A later burial does occur in the 8th or 9th century, but animal bone also appears, so while morphologically the monument has the appearance of a rath, it was not occupied, and enclosure effectively terminated its use as a cemetery. A final phase, close in time to the enclosing ditch, was the addition of a triangular annexe (dims c. 30m E-W; c. 22m N-S) defined by ditches attached to the S of the rath, which produced very little material, but the final deposits contained 13-14th century Dublin wares and even post-medieval material. The grave-pits were sometimes lined with stones and traces of a wood-lining was noted in three instances of Group 2 burials. Both male and female were equally represented at all phases. The rite was extended inhumation, and no cremation was detected. Eleven radiocarbon determinations were obtained and the calibrated dates to two sigma fall between two broad ranges – AD 422 to 609, and AD 539 to 662 – separating around the later burials of the third group of burials. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 19 March, 2015