2011:617 - RICKARDSTOWN, Westmeath

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Westmeath Site name: RICKARDSTOWN

Sites and Monuments Record No.: N/A Licence number: No licence required

Author: PƔdraig Clancy

Site type: Crouched inhumation

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 453031m, N 563303m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 51.802242, -10.130652

Rescue excavation was undertaken over a two-day period starting on 21 February 2011. The site was discovered during groundworks along a property boundary in the townland of Rickardstown, Collinstown. During the initial inspection it was evident that an almost complete vessel was visible on the exposed section, adjacent to which were a number of bones. The section face was exceptionally friable and in danger of collapsing. It was decided that an immediate rescue excavation was required. The local GardaĆ­ and landowners were notified prior to works taking place.
Topsoil of c. 0.3m was removed by hand over an area 1m in width and 2m in length. Excavation revealed a simple pit burial containing a crouched inhumation and food vessel. The pit had a uniform fill of grey-brown silty clay of varying compaction with occasional large stones. Larger stones were noted just below the sod. The cut of the pit was poorly defined, with only one section along the southern and eastern edge of the base clearly evident as a defining edge to the pit. The base on which the burial was placed was cleared of larger stones, leaving a line of in situ natural stones along the eastern edge. The base of the pit was c. 0.7m below ground level. The inhumation was crouched, with the spine straight against the line of natural stone; the hands were positioned beneath the chin and the food vessel was located at the elbow of the right arm, propped by a small stone. In its crouched position the burial was c. 1.15m from head to toe, with the skull to the south-east.

Irish Antiquities Division, National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2