Slab-lined burial in Carrowgarry

In pasture, on a level terrace on a ridge, with a gentle slope c. 10m to NW and a marked fall of ground into the small valley of the Devlin River which is 240m to W. Two raths (SL016-056----; SL016-055001-) are located 170m to E and 150m to SW, respectively. This stone-lined grave was discovered in June 2021 at a depth of 0.4-0.5m below surface by the landowner while digging a trench to take a narrow-bore plastic water pipe for connection to water troughs. The ground works disturbed the W end of the grave, displacing some of the stones and exposing human bones. The discovery was notified immediately to the National Monuments Service (NMS) and the National Museum of Ireland (NMI), and a rescue excavation (21E0643) was undertaken by NMI in September 2021 (Seaver 2022). The excavation revealed a lintelled grave (L 2.1m; Wth 0.5m; D 0.3m) containing the extended skeleton of an adult individual, oriented roughly E−W, with the head at W. The floor of the grave was unlined, the bones lying directly on the soil. The long sides were constructed of contiguous and overlapping upright slabs, and the head and foot of the grave was defined by naturally occurring stones/bedrock. It was roofed by a row of overlapping, horizontally-laid slabs/lintels. It was necessary to dismantle the grave in the process of excavation, but some of the side slabs remain in situ, and the grave was backfilled when the excavation was completed. Post-excavation analysis included specialist examination of the skeletal remains (L. Lynch, in Seaver 2022) and radiocarbon dating of a sample of bone. The radiocarbon determination returned a date of Cal AD 403-538 (UBA-46950, 2δ) placing the burial in the earliest phase of the Early Medieval period. Osteological analysis established that the burial was of an adult male, aged between 35 and 45 years at time of death. His estimated height of 172.6cm [c. 5 ft 7 inches] is relatively tall for men of this period, and an indication of good nutrition in childhood. His teeth exhibit severe deposits of calcified plaque, and the heavy wear on the crowns is evidence of a coarse diet, usual in this period. Chipping of the enamel most likely relates to the coarse diet, rather than to occupational use of the teeth. There is evidence of mild degenerative joint disease in bones on his right-hand side. The absence of skeletal signs of childhood physiological stress, his relatively tall stature and low levels of joint wear suggest that during his life he benefitted from adequate nutrition and was possibly somewhat sheltered from prolonged, heavy physical work. This, combined with the care taken in the construction of the grave, may indicate that he enjoyed a position of relative privilege or high status. The early date for the burial is interesting, placing it in a period in Ireland that saw the arrival of Bishop Pallidius in 431 and the unfolding of St Patrick‘s mission, both ministering to fledgling Christian communities; a time when newly adopted Christian modes of burial were competing with older Pagan practises. This form of burial - slab-lined with extended inhumation, aligned E-W, head to the W, devoid of grave goods - is first practised during this period, and is often interpreted as indicative of a Christian burial. The date of the burial also suggests that this man lived in a settlement that pre-dated the construction of the two raths, which crown elevated ground to E and W of the grave. (Seaver 2022) Attached images: SL016-090----_01.JPG Grave revealed during excavation, viewed from E. SL016-090----_02.JPG Skull visible at W end of grave Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 9 January 2022 References: Seaver, M. 2022 Final Report on excavations of a Slab Lined Burial at Carrowgarry, Co. Sligo. Archaeological Licence No. 21E0643; National Museum of Ireland Reference; IA/136/2021. Unpublished report submitted to the National Monuments Service in 2022.