Burial in Magheralackagh

In rough pasture, on a SE-facing slope. A human burial was discovered in 1959 during works at 'Slagfield' quarry and was investigated by Rynne (1960-61, 71-3), though some disturbance to the burial had occurred prior to his investigation. A roughly cut grave (L 2m; Wth 1m; D 1m; long axis E-W) contained the skeleton of a young adult. Investigation of the grave-fill revealed 'some animal bones, two small potsherds, a small blue glass bead and three pieces of bottle glass' all possibly thrown accidentally into the grave with the fill (ibid., 71). The potsherds were dated to the fourteenth or fifteenth centuries and indicate that the burial could not be earlier than this. Analysis of the skeleton indicated a chronic tuberculous condition. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Sligo' compiled by Ursula Egan, Elizabeth Byrne, Mary Sleeman with Sheila Ronan and Connie Murphy (Dublin Stationery Office, 2005). Date of upload: 18 January 2008