- STOKESTOWN, CO. MEATH, Meath

Introduction
In December 1955 an inhumation burial was discovered during quarrying operations near Breemount, Co. Meath. The burial came to light approximately 0.5m below ground level when workers for the Meath Lime Company were bulldozing and stripping the sod near the edge of the quarry. A few bones, teeth and a skull of a human had been unearthed during sod removal and work had then ceased pending an official investigation. The site was reported to the Garda Síochána at Trim, who informed the NMI. A rescue excavation was undertaken at the site by A.T. Lucas and Breandán Ó Ríordáin. This report is based on Ó Ríordáin’s account.

Location (Fig. 6.45)
The site was in the townland of Stokestown, east Co. Meath.⁷⁸ It lies in a field adjoining the Trim to Summerhill road, approximately 3km south of Trim town, at an altitude of approximately 90m above sea level on the southern slopes of Bray Hill.

Description of site
The overlying clay and stone material was stripped from the area of discovery. The grave-pit measured 2m by 0.36m and was aligned approximately east/west. It had been cut out of the rocky soil, and the dark colour of the soil around the skeleton contrasted in marked fashion with the ordinary sticky grey-brown soil around it. The bedrock was very close to the surface and outcrops were also visible. Although some stones were seen lying on either side of the skeleton, this would not appear to have been a stone-lined burial; rather it would seem that some of the stone displaced to make the grave had been placed on either side of the skeleton.

The grave contained an extended inhumation and no accompanying artefacts were found. The skeleton lay in a supine position, west/east, with the upper limbs aligned along the sides and hands apparently resting on the pelvis. The long bones of the upper and lower limbs were well preserved but little remained of the vertebrae. From Ó Ríordáin’s examination of the skull the sutures did not appear to be quite closed, suggesting that the cranium was not that of an aged person, but some of the teeth recovered were well ground down and worn, suggesting that the individual was ‘reasonably advanced in years’.

Comment
The human remains were not retained. In the absence of any associated finds or other dating evidence this site must be regarded as undated.

78. Parish of Laraghcor, barony of Moyfenrath Lower. SMR ME036-067——. IGR 281485 253047.