2015:361 - Inishbarnog, Donegal

The rescue excavation of a number of burials on Inishbarnog, in Loughros More Bay, Co. Donegal, was carried out between 22 June and 1 July 2015. The site was visited in April 2015 following reports that human remains had been exposed as a result of the previous winter's storms. The disturbed skeletal remains of six individuals, including one child, were visible at the head (west side) of the beach at Bealanillan Port on the east side of the island. The burials appeared to be orientated east-west Disarticulated human bones were scattered about the vicinity of the exposed burials.

The remains of six human skeletons (Skeleton Nos 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) (DG073-046), located on a promontory on the north side of Bealanillan Port, were excavated by the author in October 2003, under Licence 03E1702. Two of the skeletons (Nos 1 and 6) were removed for further analysis and were found to have suffered violent deaths. The two individuals were males aged 25-45 years and samples sent for radiocarbon dating provided mid-late 7th century AD dates. The burials contained no grave goods. A shell midden (DG073-047), which was recorded but not excavated, was visible 5.4m north-north-west of the burials. The area excavated (Cutting B) was located at the head of the beach at Bealanillan Port, 20.5m west south-west of Cutting A which was excavated in 2003. Cutting B measured 4m square and was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.25m. The stratigraphy consisted of a number of layers of sand above a peaty layer, which contained the majority of the burials. The remains of a total of fourteen individuals (Skeleton Nos 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 25) were recovered from Cutting B with a further two individuals (Skeleton Nos 24 and 26) left in situ. Skeleton No. 12 comprised a large deposit of disarticulated human bones. Skeleton No. 9, identified during the site visit in April 2015, could not be found. It was decided that the remains of Skeleton No. 13, which was located just outside the cutting, and Skeleton Nos 24 and 26 would survive if left in situ, whereas their removal would destabilise the soil around them exposing further burials to potential erosion.

Of the total of sixteen burials, there were the remains of nine juveniles and seven adults. Thirteen were identified as being in a supine position with one (Skeleton No. 15) on its right side. There was not enough remains to ascertain the position of the remaining two individuals. Five of the burials were extended with a further four possibly extended and one (Skeleton No. 15) flexed. Five individuals (Skeleton Nos 11, 14, 15, 16 and 23) were in the same grave, located along the south-south-east side of the cutting. The grave also contained a large deposit of disarticulated human remains (Skeleton No. 12). Four of the juveniles (Skeleton Nos 20, 21, 22 and 24) located in the north-north-eastern half of the cutting appeared to be associated, as were two adults (Skeleton Nos 8 and 17) and a juvenile (Skeleton No. 18) located near the north-north-east side of the cutting. All the burials appeared to be orientated roughly east-west.

A number of disarticulated human bones and a number of animal bones were also found both within and outside the cutting. No artefacts were recovered during the excavation. The excavation was funded by the National Monuments Service and post-excavation work is ongoing.

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