1999:164 - ST PETER'S CHURCH, Balrothery, Dublin

A limited archaeological excavation was carried out at St Peter's Church, Balrothery, Co. Dublin, in January 1999. The proposed development consisted of the refurbishment of the church, part of which included the excavation of a drainage trench and manhole.

During the monitoring of the excavation of a new manhole, human remains were uncovered. Construction work was halted, and an area measuring 1.8m by 1.25m was archaeologically excavated. Three phases of burial were noted, the first phase consisting of a single individual who had evidently been inserted without prior knowledge of the location of earlier burials. This burial truncated the legs of an earlier burial. Phase 2 consisted of two burials, which were both interred above earlier burials without truncating them. This may suggest prior knowledge of the grave locations. Phase 3 consisted of three burials, all of which were placed in graves dug into the natural ground.

The total number of individuals present, including disarticulated remains, was twelve, and they included three adult males, two adult females and seven juveniles. There was no evidence of coffin fittings within the graves, and it is probable that shrouds were used. Sherds of medieval pottery recovered from the burials of Phase 2 would suggest a 13th- to 14th-century date. Fragments of nails were also recovered from a clay loam layer with disarticulated human bone, above the in situ burials. These fragments may have been used as shroud pins, as has been suggested for some burials at St Peter's Church, Waterford.

A further trench excavated along the pipeline that leads from the new manhole to the existing manhole further south revealed more burials and indicated that the cemetery extended to at least this point. An alternative pumping mechanism was used for the pipeline rather than causing further disturbance to these burials.

15 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth