County: Sligo Site name: NAZARETH HOUSE, MAGHERABOY, SLIGO
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 05E0449
Author: Stephen J. Linnane and Lydia Cagney, Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd, Unit 21, Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
Site type: Prehistoric cremation
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 568498m, N 835524m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 54.267560, -8.483579
Test-trenching was undertaken on this site prior to development. Two areas of potential archaeological significance were recorded and subsequently the testing licence was extended to cover excavation. A pit had been excavated into the natural subsoil measuring c. 2m by c. 1m and the sides and base of this had been heavily oxidised, whilst the overlying layers were rich in charcoal with cremated bone inclusions. This area of burning was associated with an irregular collection of post- and stake-holes and a pit containing high concentrations of cremated bone. Analysis of the bone and radiocarbon dates are awaited but it is suggested that the features represent the remains of a cremation platform, pyre and burial pit dating to the prehistoric, probably Bronze Age, period.
A second feature, consisting of a circular, bowl-shaped pit of c. 1m in diameter and c. 0.35m in depth, was excavated c. 140m to the north-east of the cremation. The pit appeared to be a hearth but no finds were discovered and dating awaits the results of radiocarbon dating.
