2002:0615 - ‘THE POINT', Lambay Island, Dublin

The site is at the south-west point of Lambay Island. As the result of storm damage, in particular in early 2002, a small, west-facing promontory comprising stabilised storm beach material is being eroded on its southern and western sides. Excavation in 1995 at the south-east corner of this promontory (Excavations 1995, No. 100, 95E140) revealed a multiple grave containing five young adult males (17–25 years old) and an adolescent (15–16 years old) (osteological report by Dr Barra Ó Donnabháin) dating to around AD 1500 (radiocarbon dates from two individuals). Examination of the site in April 2002 indicated a second grave with human skeletal material exposed in a south-facing section, 20m west of the burial excavated in 1995. This was clearly at risk of removal by further storm activity, and a one-week excavation was carried out in May 2002, with support from the Dúchas contingency fund.

The excavation revealed a grave at a depth of 0.2m cut into storm beach material under the turf-line and the underlying, loose, well-sorted, sandy silt horizon. The storm beach material, exposed to a depth of 0.5m, comprised rounded beach cobbles (0.05–0.2m in diameter) in a dark brown silt matrix with occasional shell fragments. The cobbles increased in size toward the base of the profile. Cut into this material was the surviving, northern part of a grave, 2.1m long, 0.9m wide and 0.5m deep. In the grave was an intact, extended, east–west inhumation close to the northern side of the cut and resting on its base. A small fragment of textile and an iron rivet cap were found adjacent to the lower right limb bones. Immediately to the south of this individual were the surviving left limb bones of a second individual. The fill consisted of storm beach material backfilled into the grave. There was a concentration of heavier, larger cobbles over the bones, particularly around the head and the upper chest area. Smaller stones and silt were placed over this main fill.

It is clear that what had been excavated was the surviving part of a larger, multiple grave. Scattered human bone recovered from the beach in April 2002 indicated the presence of at least two further individuals in the eroded part of the grave. The two burials in the grave excavated (identification and analysis by Linda Fibiger) consisted of the complete articulated skeleton of an adult male aged between 35 and 45 years and the partially surviving articulated remains of an adolescent aged between 16 and 20 years.

As with the grave excavated in 1995, it seems probable that all of the individuals in the grave were male. The excavation is of significant archaeological interest. Although the dates for the individuals in the grave have not yet been established, the very strong similarities with the grave excavated in 1995 indicate that this was a medieval cemetery area with at least two multiple graves, both of them for the burial of adult males and adolescents.

Belfield, Dublin 4