2004:1215 - KILLAHAUSHKY, KILLAHAUSHKEEN OR KILLASHEEN, DANGAN, Meath

The site, although known locally as an old graveyard, was not recorded as a monument by any official source. It consisted of a mound, approximately oval in shape, which had been cut through by the existing road when it was first constructed in the 18th century. The part furthest from the road was steep-sided and irregular in plan from the removal of the sand of which the bulk of the mound is composed, and it is likely that the present mound is actually the truncated remains of an elongated ridge. This work took place prior to the realignment and widening of the existing road.

Three cuttings were opened in a line across the top of the mound, parallel to the road. It was soon established that the sod layer immediately overlay a layer of loose soil containing a large amount of disarticulated bone. Intact burials were present as little as 0.15m below the surface. As far as could be established, these were unaccompanied extended inhumations with varying orientations. As the purpose of the investigation was to establish the presence and extent of archaeology, they were not excavated further. In one area near the edge of the mound, it was possible to excavate a small sondage without removing any burials. It was found here that the ground was disturbed to a depth of 1.3-1.9m. Below that were naturally stratified glacial sand deposits. Apart from human bones, the only finds were a sherd of pottery of apparent post-mediaeval date and two lumps of slag. No trace of any structures was found.