County: Dublin Site name: Simmonscourt, Dublin 4
Sites and Monuments Record No.: SMR DU022-084 Licence number: —
Author: —
Site type: GRAVES OF INDETERMINATE DATE
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 718161m, N 731322m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.318970, -6.226511
On 10 June 2003 human remains were discovered during the digging of a hole for a flagpole at the residence of the German ambassador to Ireland at ‘Danesfield’, Seaview Terrace, in Donnybrook, in the townland of Simmonscourt.89 The site was investigated the following day by Mary Cahill and Maeve Sikora. The cut for the pole was approximately 0.9m deep and the human remains were found at the base of the pit. A portion of a skull was visible at the west side of the pit, and part of a humerus was visible in the articulated position. The skull was firmly wedged to the base of the pit with what appeared to be iron pan. The burial appeared to be aligned west/east. No associated artefacts were discovered, nor was there any evidence of structural stones in the vicinity of the burial. As it would not have been possible to remove the skull without extensive excavation, the burial was preserved in situ. The remains were covered with gravel and sealed by a slate, and the flagpole was erected over this. It appears that this is the location of the ‘Great Sepulchral Mound’ at Donnybrook discussed by Frazer (1879–88), where a Viking burial was discovered in the centre of the mound (see also O’Brien 1992, 170–3).90 This is corroborated by the fact that an apparently large quantity of human remains was discovered during the construction of a conservatory attached to the ambassador’s residence a number of years ago.
89. Parish of Donnybrook, barony of Dublin. SMR DU022-084——.
90. SMR DU022-084——. IGR 318236 231296.
