County: Meath Site name: BALTRASNA, CO. MEATH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR ME045-006SMR ME045-026 Licence number: E1128
Author: ELLEN PRENDERGAST
Site type: Graves of indeterminate date
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 706257m, N 750712m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.495677, -6.398558
Introduction
In March 1963 human remains were discovered during the digging of foundation trenches for a house near Ashbourne, Co. Meath. Most of the burials were disturbed as a mechanical excavator was used to dig the trenches. The site was reported to the Gardaí at Ashbourne, who informed the NMI. The site was also visited by the county coroner and the local parish priest. A rescue excavation was undertaken by Ellen Prendergast.
Location (Fig. 6.34)
The site was in Baltrasna townland close to Ashbourne, south-east Co. Meath.59 It was on the south side of the main road between Ratoath and Donaghmore village at an altitude of c. 60m above sea level. The field in which the site is located has a curvilinear boundary on its east side, and it is possible that this was the original boundary of the cemetery. A souterrain60 is also known from this townland.
Description of site
Scattered bone was noticed in the heaped material that had been removed from the foundation trenches. Portions of a number of in situ burials were also visible in the sections of the foundation trenches. All of these burials were extended and aligned west/east. These are described below. No artefacts were found with the human remains (2010:85).
Grave 1
This grave contained an extended inhumation of an adult male aligned west/east. The remains were found at a depth of 0.6m below ground level. No grave-cut or stone lining was noticed in the area of the burial. From the remaining portion of the skeleton (c. 0.75m) it was clear that the body had been placed in a supine position, with the head to the west and the arms and legs extended. A single horse tooth and other miscellaneous bones were found at a slightly higher level (depth of 0.4m) at the east end of the grave. A female skull was also found in the vicinity.
Graves 2 and 3
These were visible in the north face of a foundation trench, and lay adjacent to grave 1. Both were unlined. One of the burials was at a higher level than grave 1. Grave 2 contained bones of a young adult male and a young adult female. Grave 3 also contained parts of a young adult male and female.
Grave 4
This burial was noticed in a section of one of the foundation trenches at a depth of 0.65m. Again, there was no evidence of a pit or stone-lined grave in the area. The grave was aligned west/east and lay at a depth of 0.65m below ground level. The bones were exposed over an area measuring 1.35m in length. The grave contained an extended inhumation aligned west/east. The remains represented an adult male. Again, the body lay in an extended supine position. No skull was found.
Grave 5
This was noticed opposite grave 4, on the southern face of the trench. The remains represented portions of a male and a female skeleton.
Comment
As there were no finds associated with these burials and no other dating evidence was recovered the site must be regarded as undated. The animal bone collected from the site was identified as fragments of bone and teeth of horse, ox and pig.61
HUMAN REMAINS
J.B. COAKLEY
2010:85—at least seven individuals—four males and three females [were identified]. All [were] young adults (c. 25 or up to 40 [years]); finely built; [with] healthy, excellent teeth. [There were] no traces of any physical disability. The males [were] strong and muscular. [They were buried] apparently in pairs. [They were] oriented east/west, extended burials on back with arms by the sides. [There was] some disturbance from above occasionally but all the skeletons were articulated. [There were] a few animal bones here and there. [There was] no indication of cause of death or disease.
Skeleton 1—one male, adult, powerful, muscular, and female skull, over 21 [years] ([query] part of 1a or 1b).
Skeleton 1a—parts of male and parts of female, both over 25 [years], young, [in their?] prime.
Skeleton 1b—parts of adult male (smaller than 1); parts of female; [both] young adults
Skeleton 2—male, tall, powerful, adult.
Skeleton 3—one male adult 25–40 [years], powerful, muscular; one adult female 25+ [years]; possibly another male.
59. Parish of Ratoath, barony of Ratoath. SMR ME045-006——. IGR 306330 250690.
60. SMR ME045-026——.
61. Identified by Miss G. Roche, Natural History Division, NMI.
