2002:0936 - KILMEAGE, Kildare

Pre-development testing was carried out here in November 1999 (Excavations 1999, No. 398, 99E0625). Construction began in 2001. Monitoring was undertaken intermittently between May 2001 and April 2002.

The first phase of monitoring was carried out in May 2001 (Excavations 2001, No. 654, 95E0259). During topsoil clearance for an access road in July 2001, the remains of a single skeleton were exposed. Work ceased on the site at this stage owing to other planning considerations. In April 2002 the remains were lifted, and the area in the vicinity of the skeleton was cleared back to establish whether more burials were present, but there was no evidence to indicate further burials.

The skeleton was aligned east–west with the feet at the east. There was a distinct shallow grave-cut. It was filled with a softer, grey material that showed up slightly orange on the surface. On the north side of the skeleton three small stones were placed just inside the edge of the cut, within the fill. The skeleton was lying closer to the south edge of the grave and was supine. The bones of both feet were missing. The right arm lay underneath the pelvis, and the left lay over the pelvis. The skull and the top three or four vertebrae were missing. The absence of the skull was problematic; the grave-cut continued around the top of the burial as if to allow some space for the skull. There was no evidence that the skull had been removed in recent times, by a mechanical digger or otherwise. It is possible that the head had been missing before the burial took place or removed at a time very close to burial.

There is a tradition that a cleric was buried in this field in the 18th century. There is also a tradition that Dr Gallagher, bishop of Kildare from 1737 to 1751, lived in a house in this field.

Roestown, Drumree, Co. Meath