County: Kildare Site name: GRANEY EAST
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 99E0052 ext.
Author: Martin E. Byrne
Site type: Burial
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 681675m, N 683943m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.900136, -6.786017
Monitoring of topsoil-stripping in relation to a small quarry development commenced in 1999, during which a female skeleton was uncovered and excavated (Excavations 1999, 127–8). Additional monitoring was undertaken in mid-April 2000. During the process of topsoil-stripping, an additional human skeleton (Sk. 2) was dislodged from an in situ position when a dumper truck caused a portion of a baulk to collapse while entering the site from an ‘unstripped’ area. This caused damage and disturbance to most of the skeleton, with only the lower legs and feet remaining in situ. Faint traces of a grave-cut were discernible, indicating the likelihood that the individual lay in an extended position with a general east-north-east/west-south-west orientation. Analysis of this individual indicated that it was the remains of a middle-aged adult female (Clare Mullins, pers. comm.).
Additional skeletons were uncovered in a group located c. 25m north-north-east of Sk. 2. Consequently, the remaining unstripped area of the quarry was subjected to a programme of archaeological testing in mid–late August. The extent of the burial area was revealed to be 11.8m north–south x 9.6m, with a minimum depth of 0.4m from the existing surface. This group of burials lies in a natural sand-filled depression in the underlying gravel, at the highest point of the site. The burials appear to be generally orientated east–west, and there is some evidence for disturbanc disarticulation, probably the result of the site being in use over a period of time rather than representing a single episode of burial. In addition, there was some evidence for stratification.
After discussions with NMHPS, an appropriate buffer zone and reinstatement programme were agreed and implemented. In addition, an area to the south-south-east was subsequently topsoil-stripped, during which no additional material of archaeological interest was uncovered.
Additional monitoring will be undertaken during 2001.
31 Millford, Athgarvan, Co. Kildare
