1999:710 - SARSFIELDSTOWN, Meath

The site was in Sarsfieldstown, Co. Meath, c. 7km north of Balbriggan, to the west of the N1. This previously unknown site was uncovered during land development of a gravel mound on a private farm. A machine trench excavated into the east of the mound revealed a number of human skeletons. The topsoil had been stripped surrounding the trench, revealing the presence of further human skeletons. A rescue excavation was carried out on behalf of Dúchas over five days in December, with a remit to retrieve the disturbed human remains from the machine spoil, to record the machine section stratigraphy and to excavate the skeletons truncated by the machine.

The sections revealed the remains of at least eight individuals including one infant, all buried in fairly shallow graves below the topsoil and all truncated by the machine. Many of these individuals had also been disturbed in the past by subsequent burials, ploughing and possibly also animal activity. Those in the north- and east-facing sections were cut through the natural gravel mound, whereas those in the south-facing section were cut through a deep layer of very stony, silty clay. No evidence of stone linings, coffins, shrouds or artefacts was recovered. The intact skeletons were orientated east-west with their heads to the west. It was not feasible to attempt to excavate all the human remains truncated by the machine without uncovering further skeletons, necessitating a large-scale excavation outside our remit. Two of the skeletons were excavated, and the rest were covered so that the trench could be backfilled and the mound restored.

Preliminary examination of the skeletons by Laureen Buckley suggested that they are very likely to be pre-medieval in date.

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