County: Limerick Site name: KILDIMO
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0880
Author: Linda G. Lynch, Aegis Archaeology Ltd, 16 Avondale Court, Corbally, Limerick.
Site type: Human remains
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 544931m, N 651080m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.608180, -8.813054
Excavations were undertaken at the site of a quarry following the discovery of human skeletal remains. This site had not previously been recorded as a burial ground, although human remains had been uncovered here in the mid- to later 20th century. The remains of six individuals were recorded during the present investigations. Four of these were left in situ, while the remains of two individuals were excavated, as they were in immediate danger of being damaged.
The excavated skeletons were of two juveniles, one aged 6–9 years and the other aged 12–14 years at time of death. Both had been interred at the same time. Samples taken of the burial fill revealed the remains of insects directly associated with the skeletons. These were analysed by archaeoentomologist Eileen Reilly. Two species were identified, Calliphora vicina/vomitoria and a Phoridae fly. Both are directly associated with decomposing flesh. Initial assessment indicates that there may have been a significant delay between the time of death and the time of burial. A radiocarbon date is currently being processed for one of the skeletons.
