1995:100 - THE POINT, Lambay Island, Dublin

The site is located at the south-west point of Lambay Island. As the result of storm activity, this part of the island coastline is eroding and human bones have been exposed in section. These were first noted over the winter of 1994/5, at which time some skull fragments were brought to the National Museum of Ireland. During the spring of 1995 more material was exposed owing to storm activity and rat burrowing. Given the possibility of immediate further damage to the site, an excavation was carried out over a period of a week in July 1995.

The excavated area was 2m x 3m. This was bounded on the west by an outcrop of natural rock, and to the north and east the ground gently slopes to the seashore, ending abruptly at the edge of a storm beach. On peeling back the sod, the first layer of storm beach material was revealed. It consisted primarily of beach-rolled stones of andesite, porphyry and sandstone. Some quartz was also noted. A series of fire-cracked rocks was also present near the upper surface of this layer. Finds from this layer were few: two pieces of flint, part of a human hand or foot, animal bone and what appeared to be burnt 'modern' rubbish. There was no discernible cut or horizontal distinction on the surface, but the probable slump of rubble toward the shoreline would, at present, hide any such feature. A distinction was made between the first layer of storm beach and a lower one, where a layer of loose gravel lay in amongst larger pebbles/cobbles. The finds from this lower layer consisted of more animal bone scattered amongst the loose rubble and a large pottery rimsherd, initial identification of which suggests that it is 'B' ware. Again no cut was visible on the surface of this layer.

Beneath this layer were the skeletal remains of six individuals orientated generally north-south and placed in a distinctive grave dug into the existing gravel beach material with a small area of midden-type material (humic sediment, animal bones and shells) at the north-east corner of the cutting. The sides of the grave were formed by a setting of slabs on the northern (fronting onto the shore) side, the natural outcrop and supplementary slabs to it on the west side, and the storm beach on the southern and (apparently) on the eastern side. It may be possible to infer from a distinctive cut at the southern end of the grave that it was from this side that the grave was dug. The skeletons were resting upon a thin layer of soil-like material, probably representing a combination of human decomposition processes and the pre-existing sediment surface. Further investigation showed that a rat burrow had been made under the slabs on the northern side and up through the skeletal remains. As a result a large amount of modern rubbish had been brought in to provide nesting material. The finds, all in disturbed contexts, included a large amount of animal bone (derived from the pre-existing midden) and another large sherd of what appears to be 'B' ware.

A minimum number of six individuals were revealed, all male: three adults, two possible c. 15-year-olds and one possible c. 20-year-old (on-site examination by Barra Ó Donnabháin). It should be noted that the upper body parts were not well represented. This is more than likely due to the animal burrowing: in a number of instances it is possible to see teeth marks on the remaining bones. Furthermore, the activity of the sea which brought the site to our attention must also be responsible for the poor preservation of the remains. The crania of possibly three individuals were joined together with a large blob of tar-like substance and it was difficult to identify to which individual the skull fragments belonged. The lack of skeletal material in the north-east of the cutting would match with the area where the previous remains had come to light.

As yet there are no clear indications of the date of this burial, which should be considered as a mass grave as it is clear that all the individuals were placed in the grave at the same time. The sherds of what appear to be 'B' ware, like the animal bone, could be derived from previous activity at the site and there is no reason why the burial deposit could not be substantially later in date. The skeletal material, currently being analysed in detail, will provide the best date for the site.