County: Limerick Site name: STRADBALLY NORTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E0214
Author: Frank Coyne, Aegis Archaeology Ltd.
Site type: Burial ground
Period/Dating: Late Medieval (AD 1100-AD 1599)
ITM: E 563958m, N 661042m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.699316, -8.533238
This site was tested by Linda Lynch (No. 1202, Excavations 2003). The subsequent excavation revealed the burial of at least thirteen individuals. Ten articulated skeletons, which appeared to have been buried in haste, were recovered, along with a significant volume of disarticulated human remains representing at least three other individuals.
Preliminary analysis of the recovered skeletons indicates that there were three female adults, six male adults and one juvenile. It was noted that one of the young males had suffered a fracture to the right femur close to the time of death. Spinal disease was also observed on a female adult. One individual seems to have been wrapped in a winding sheet, whilst others appear to have been buried in a shroud, secured at the hands and feet.
The burials in general were oriented north-east/south-west. No structure was identified during excavation; however, the road immediately to the west is known as Chapel Hill and, according to local information, a church had existed at the site of the nearby old schoolhouse.
Sixteen finds were taken from the site, including a 15th-century silver penny, a number of iron and copper alloy belt buckles, a bronze mount with gold gilt and two pieces of post-medieval pottery.
16 Avondale Court, Corbally, Limerick
