County: Kildare Site name: TIMOLIN (Site 43)
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0203
Author: Thaddeus C. Breen, for Valerie J. Keeley.
Site type: Barrow - mound barrow, Pit-burial and Cist
Period/Dating: Multi-period
ITM: E 680260m, N 694755m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.997498, -6.804368
This was one of a series of archaeological investigations carried out on the proposed route of the N9 Realignment at Moone–Timolin–Ballitore Hill. Site 43 proper was a low mound, half of which was on the line of the road, but, as cist burials had previously been found on either side of the line of the road, it was decided to investigate the entire area. The site of a slip road adjoining the present road was also investigated because a further cist grave was said to have been found at the foot of a standing stone near the present road.
A geophysical survey of the relevant areas pinpointed a number of potential features, and eight cuttings, 2m x 2m, were dug by hand on the sites indicated. Only one of these showed any structural remains, and that appeared to be a recent feature, near the present road. However, a large amount of medieval pottery was found here in the topsoil. It may be significant that the Fair Green is recorded as having been near here.
After the eight cuttings had been excavated, the relevant parts of the route were completely stripped by machine. Two small burnt spreads were found, as well as traces of drains and lazy-beds that had been shown in the geophysical survey. Further medieval pottery was found scattered around the field, presumably spread by ploughing.
When Site 43 proper, a low circular mound, was being stripped, a pit burial was exposed, and the remainder of the half of the mound to be affected by the road was excavated by hand. A further pit and two cists were found.
The first pit, Feature 6, was subrectangular, 1.3m x 0.9m, and 0.2m deep. It contained the remains of a child, five to seven years old. The bones were not burnt but were broken and disarticulated. This appeared to be the result of later disturbance, as some of the bones were found between three overlapping flat stones that had collapsed into the pit.
The second pit, Feature 8, was also subrectangular, 1.9m x 1.1m, but the lower part was smaller and almost triangular. The overall depth was 0.43m. Some flat slabs of stone were found near the top. This pit had certainly been disturbed, as only two fragments of cremated bone were found in it, along with part of a clay pipe stem.
One cist, Feature 7, comprised four stone slabs forming the walls (1.2m x 0.8m) and a capstone that was somewhat bigger than the cist proper. There was no floor stone. It contained a crouched inhumation, with no grave-goods. The skeleton lay on its right, facing west, with the head at the southern end. It was identified as the remains of a woman aged 25–35.
The second cist, Feature 9, was polygonal, with a stone base. No capstone was present, but there was an outer wall of slabs sloping inwards at an angle of about 30o. The cist was shallow, only 0.2–0.23m deep, and was filled with a mixture of soil and cremated bone. Cremated bone was also found beneath the floor stone and between the inner and outer walls. The cremation represented the remains of two adults and one child. They were accompanied by two pots: an upright vase and an undecorated vessel, inverted. The cist proper measured 1.4m x 0.86m; the overall dimensions including the outer walls were 1.6m x 1.4m.
13 Wainsfort Crescent, Dublin 6W
