County: Limerick Site name: KILMACANEARLA NORTH
Sites and Monuments Record No.: LI030-094 Licence number: 11E0220
Author: Mark Keegan
Site type: Early medieval/medieval
Period/Dating: —
ITM: E 546776m, N 637170m
Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 52.483351, -8.783594
Human remains were uncovered during the course of agricultural improvement works immediately to the north of LI030-094 (Religious House—Unclassified). As the remains were under threat, it was decided that the National Monuments Service should recover all ex situ remains and excavate any in situ remains that were exposed. This work was undertaken in June 2011.
Four areas of ex situ concentrations of human skeletal material were recorded to the north of the religious house. Occasional bone fragments were also scattered within a radius of 35m from the structure. A fifth area containing a surface spread of metal slag was identified c. 40m to the north-east of the structure.
All visible human remains were recovered and a single adult inhumation burial (Area 3) was excavated. All visible metal slag was also recovered.
A total of six individuals were identified during post-excavation analysis by forensic anthropologist Laureen Buckley. One was a young juvenile, three were adults and two others represent adolescents or young adults. The adult/adolescent burials included at least two males and two females. The articulated remains from Area 3 were those of a female.
The area containing the archaeological remains was reinstated under supervision. Post-excavation analysis is continuing, and it is hoped to obtain suitable samples from the human remains for 14C AMS radiocarbon dating.
National Monuments Service, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Government Buildings, The Glen, Waterford
