County: Meath Site name: IFFERNOCK
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 03E1828 EXT.
Author: Dominic Delany, Dominic Delany & Associates
Site type: Burial ground
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 681689m, N 756085m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.548338, -6.767326
Two separate cemeteries were discovered during monitoring of topsoil removal at a substantial development site in the townland of Iffernock, which is located 1km to the east of Trim. The proposed development comprises a golf course, clubhouse, hotel, holiday cottages and two residential developments. The development site formed part of the curtilage of Teaguestown House. The first cemetery site (Site I) was discovered on the 3 September 2004 (Excavations 2004, No. 1251), while the second (Site II) was discovered on 19 January 2005. Both sites were located in the same field, with Site I situated 295m south south-east of Site II. Prior to development the field was used for tillage.
Site I was excavated between 3 October and 12 November 2005. The site was located directly to the east of a disused gravel pathway linking Teaguestown House to the Dublin road. The graves were quite shallow, being excavated into the pea-gravel that lay beneath the topsoil. However, they remained undisturbed by plough activity. A total of 31 inhumations were uncovered, all of which were orientated east–west and extended in a supine position. The skeleton assemblage included both sexes and ranged in age from infants to adults. In general, the graves were regularly spaced from one another, with only two of the inhumations being disturbed by the excavation of graves for subsequent burials. No evidence for coffins or diagnostic artefacts was uncovered during the course of the excavation.
Site II was located towards the eastern end of a low gravel ridge that ran east–west across the development site, immediately south of an old road running eastwards towards Knock Mills. The topsoil covering the site was quite shallow and as a result the burials were much disturbed by both ploughing and quarrying activity. A total of 24 inhumations were uncovered, along with a substantial assemblage of disarticulated bone. All of the burials were orientated east–west and extended in the supine position. The assemblage included both males and females, ranging in age from juvenile to adult.
Unit 3, Howley Court, Oranmore, Co. Galway
