2006:2050 - Boreen Bradach, Kinnegad, Westmeath

A site inspection of the proposed development of a local authority housing scheme in Kinnegad was undertaken, at the request of the developer (Westmeath County Council), on 29 May 2006 by Tim Coughlan of IAC Ltd, as skeletal remains were uncovered during construction works. Works prior to this date had severely truncated and removed archaeological remains, including burials, across the northern half of the proposed development. Human remains were noted within the spoilheaps deposited in the western half of the site. Construction works exposed 3–4 east–west oriented burials in an area measuring c. 40m north–south by 15m (Area A). This area had been reduced to the natural subsoil and it is likely that the burials represent the earliest phase of burials on site. The topsoil in Area B to the west of Area A had previously been removed by bulldozer. Area B measures c. 40m north–south by 20m. Area B is topographically c. 0.6m higher than Area A.
A two-phased approach was agreed for the assessment of the site. The assessment was undertaken to establish the extent of the burials on site and to identify any associated archaeological remains within the development area. Phase 1 involved the recording and removal of any exposed skeletal remains in an area severely impacted upon by groundworks (Area A). Phase 2 involved the excavation of test-trenches to assess the limits of the burial-ground.
The assessment commenced on 10 May 2006 and lasted for nine days. In the areas surrounding Areas A and B, testing was carried out using a small mini-digger excavator with a flat, 1.5m wide toothless bucket. A total of fourteen trenches and two test-pits were investigated across the test area, which measured 12,550m2.
A total of seventeen grave-cuts were identified in Area A, although 4–5 of these are only tentatively described as such. Two of these burials were extensively exposed during the construction works and it was decided therefore to fully excavate these. Both skeletons were oriented roughly east–west with the head to the west; they were extended and supine, in moderate completeness and moderate preservation. The remaining grave-cuts were identified as truncated (mostly) east–west-oriented features which contained some disarticulated human remains within, or on the surface of, the upper fill of the grave. After full recording of Area A, the remaining partially exposed human remains were carefully covered, packed with piles of soft sand and covered in plastic sheeting to protect them from exposure to the elements. Disarticulated human remains were noted during a walkover/visual inspection throughout this area; also multiple layers of skeletal remains were noted in the exposed section between Areas A and B. Testing in Area B revealed that the main concentration and density of burials is evidently at the boundary of the adjoining areas.
The remains of a curvilinear ditch were identified curving north–south across Area A, measuring c. 1.5m in width. It was much narrower in its southern sections in this area, probably due to more extensive truncation. This ditch (Ditch A) is likely to be the main enclosing boundary ditch for the cemetery. It was also identified during the testing phase to the north, south and west of Area A. The extent of burials was 45m east–west by 55m, as defined by the boundary ditch of the burial-ground (Ditch A) and by evidence of in situ human remains throughout this area. There was also tentative evidence of an outer enclosing ditch (Ditch B), which was evident on the eastern edge of the burial activity.
There was also evidence of industrial activity in the form of metalworking outside the limits of the boundary ditch and to the west of the main area of activity. This was evident in industrial pits in Trenches 10 and 11 and by the large quantities of metallurgical waste that were recovered from the spoilheap to the north of the site. This slag was obviously displaced during the topsoil removal and is indicative of extensive metalworking on site.