2007:713 - ILLAUNTANNIG, Kerry

The remains of a human skeleton were discovered recently on the east shore of Illauntannig, one of the Magharee Islands in Tralee Bay, Co. Kerry. The human remains are close to an early medieval monastic site associated with St Senach, from which the island derives its name. The monastic site is a national monument (reference number 67) owned by the state.

The human remains became manifest following collapse of a clump of sandy soil from an active erosion scour on the south-east shoreline of Illauntannig. Erosion has always been an issue on Illauntannig and it can vary in intensity and location from year to year. On 2 June 2007, a marked increase in erosion since 2006 was recorded, and that some of the scours had joined together creating a larger area of loss. By August this clump of sandy material had collapsed, exposing human remains clearly manifest as a skull, and by the end of the month the skull was crushed and it was obvious that the burial had been interfered with by visitors to the island, as more of it was exposed. Several loose bones and introduced wind-blown sand had also been heaped on the remains.

Following a preliminary inspection report, undertaken by the writer, a licence was issued to undertake a rescue excavation funded by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The introduced wind-blown sand was removed from the exposed remains. Loose bones that had been gathered and placed with the remains were collected and bagged after photographing. Only the upper half of the skeleton had survived. At least two other individuals were also recorded. One of the collected loose surface bones belonged to a smaller, younger person.

The remains were fully excavated. The exact location of all the exposed remains was surveyed with a Trimble Pro X-H GPS system. The survey also included the eroding cliff/shoreline as far north as the farm complex, as well as a contextual, though non-exhaustive, survey of the monastic enclosure and a section of the cliff edge.

Cleaning of the in situ light sandy material from around the individual revealed no grave-cut or any other associated feature. The truncated remains of a supine skeleton lay on an incidental sandy shelf (created when the overlying sod gets detached and falls away by erosion) at a below-ground depth of 0.4m and was oriented in a distinct north-west/south-east direction. The burial of the individual displayed a general demeanour of haste, manifest by: (1) the almost casual aspect of the remains, with the shoulder bones well back; (2) absence of associated pillow or ear-muff stones, with a ready supply immediately available on the beach; (3) shallow depth and lack of formality of the grave in sandy soil that could be easily excavated; (4) the orientation; and (5) evidence of rodent gnawing on the bones. Collectively, these indicators appear to demonstrate that the individual may have been lifted or dragged and placed in a shallow grave, which would account for the position of the shoulder bone. Osteoarchaeologist Linda Lynch noted the ‘relaxed’ aspect of the skeletal remains and postulates the non-use of formalised winding sheets, which would have maintained a uniform rigidity of the burial, further supporting the hasty burial scenario. There is no graveyard on Illauntannig other than the small burial-ground within the monastic enclosure and the leachta. Islanders and mainlanders were buried at Kilshannig or at Killiney. There is no tradition of burial on Illauntannig or use of the enclosure as a children’s burial-ground.

This tiny rescue excavation has recovered the partial skeleton of a robust adult male, one of at least three individuals, on the edge of the shore on Illauntannig. There is no tradition of burial in that area in living memory. The interim excavation results indicate that the burial may be that of a shipwreck victim. Given that the only recovered artefacts are the human remains, the results of the radiocarbon determination will be extremely important.

3 Lios Na Lohart, Ballyvelly, Tralee, Co. Kerry