County: Kildare Site name: CASTLEDERMOT: The Pike, Skenagun
Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: 06E1162
Author: Martin E. Byrne, Byrne Mullins & Associates
Site type: Burial ground
Period/Dating: Undetermined
ITM: E 677530m, N 684857m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.908961, -6.847381
Testing was undertaken at this site in January 2007. The site is located on the northern end of the town and in the south-western side of The Pike Cross. Testing revealed that, for the most part, the original levels across the northern half of the site were previously reduced down on to the surface of the subsoil in order to facilitate the construction of a former dwelling. This material was then dumped in the southern low-lying area of the site, thereby raising the levels in this area.
The very partial remains of a human skeleton were uncovered in the western end of Trench 1. The greater part of the burial, which is aligned east–west, lies undisturbed under a depth of c. 0.9m of soil, most of which is later fill. Hand-cleaning of the trench sections in the immediate environs of the skeleton did not reveal any other human remains or features of archaeological interest. It was not considered that the development, as proposed, would have any impact on the skeletal remains. However, it was considered prudent that any groundworks in the vicinity of the remains should be monitored.
Following discussions between the site developer and the owners of the adjoining property to the west, it was agreed that the shared boundary wall would be underpinned. This area was not originally tested due to concerns regarding the stability of the wall. Ground-reduction works in this area resulted in the discovery of five additional skeletons. It was subsequently agreed with the National Monuments Service that these would be further excavated and removed. In general, two of the skeletons were almost complete, with the remainder truncated by previous site development/disturbance works.
Preliminary analysis of the remains by Clare Mullins indicates that they comprised two females, two probable males and one unsexed individual. One of the females was at least twenty years of age, while the other was 25–35. The males comprised a mature adult and a middle-aged or older adult.
7 Cnoc na Greine Square, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare
