- CREEVAGH, CO. MAYO, Mayo

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Mayo Site name: CREEVAGH, CO. MAYO

Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR MA089-067 Licence number: E1123

Author: MAEVE SIKORA

Site type: Iron Age and early medieval graves, c. 300 BC–c. AD 1200

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 517507m, N 840301m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.304794, -9.267508

Introduction
In May 1967 a lintel grave containing an inhumation was discovered during quarrying operations near Castlebar, Co. Mayo. The cist was found approximately 1.2m below ground level. The site was reported to the Garda Síochána at Claremorris, who took possession of the bones and reported the site to the NMI. As the stones subsequently collapsed inwards, the site was not investigated by NMI staff. Some details were noted, however, and the human remains were acquired by the Museum. This report is based on Sergeant J. O’Callaghan’s report of the site and on Professor Erskine’s analysis of the human remains.

Location
The site was in the townland of Creevagh, approximately 8km south of Castlebar, Co. Mayo.79 According to the report submitted to the Museum, it was about one mile north of Ballintubber Abbey, which is in the adjacent townland. No further details are known, other than that it was located in a sand quarry on the land of Thomas McCarthy.

Description of site
The grave was rectangular, with its long axis aligned west/east. It was described as a ‘flagged grave’ with a number of capstones and paving slabs. Some of the side stones and contents were disturbed by the digger. No details were recorded as to the size or structure of the cist, but it was probably long enough to hold an extended skeleton.

The grave contained an inhumation of a young adult male (1967:136), lying west/east. No details are recorded as to the disposition of the skeleton.

Comment
This grave was dated to the early medieval period on the basis of its form, presumably a lintel grave. The site was not examined by NMI personnel and no further details were recorded.

HUMAN REMAINS (1967:136)
C.A. ERSKINE

Fairly large number of fragments of one skeleton of a strongly built young adult male. Skull: nearly complete. Vault can be fitted; only small pieces of frontal and parietal missing. Sutures well marked and not fused. Some recent breaks. Notable and unusual sulci-gyri markings on the inside of parietals; vascular markings are also unusually distinct on these bones. Metopic suture present. Frontal sinus not well developed. Temporals show a distinct grooved (petroussquamous suture (with foramen)) and a deep digastric notch. Mandible large and strong. Well-marked genial tubercles. Complete dentition with a fair degree of wear. Five teeth missing (recent) in maxilla. Vertebral column: fragmented; pieces of cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae present. Peculiar post-mortem indentation on anterior surface of midthoracic vertebral body. Piece of right ala of sacrum present. Ribs: fairly well represented. Strong and heavy. Limbs: arm: right scapula, fragment. Complete right clavicle, very well marked. Large right humerus and fragment of radius and ulna. Middle and ring metacarpals (right) and base of first metacarpal. Two phalanges present. Left arm missing except for medial part of clavicle and possible fragment of left humeral head. Leg bones absent but fragments of iliac bone (with acetabulum) present.

79. Parish of Ballintober, barony of Carra. SMR MA089-067——. Coordinates not noted. Apparently the site was located ‘about one mile north of Ballintubber Abbey’.