2015:273 - Gooreen, Omey Island, Galway

NMI Burial Excavation Records

County: Galway Site name: Gooreen, Omey Island

Sites and Monuments Record No.: GA021-049---- Licence number: 15E0345

Author: Linda G. Lynch

Site type: Burials

Period/Dating:

ITM: E 456126m, N 756286m

Latitude, Longitude (decimal degrees): 53.536790, -10.170536

Human skeletal remains were exposed, through sea and weather erosion, in a sand-cliff along the northern shore of Omey Island. The island contains a number of archaeological sites, and a large Early Christian cemetery, located 100m to the east, was previously excavated by Tadgh O'Keefe. Human skeletal remains have frequently been identified and reported along the shoreline following natural erosion. Eamon P. Kelly (NMI) reported on exposed skeletal remains in 2002 just 30m to the east of the present find-spot. The excavation of the exposed remains was ultimately dictated by the environment and the dangers posed by the eroding sand-cliff. Only the exposed and endangered bones were recovered and emphasis was placed on minimal disturbance of intact strata. Three in situ adult burials (including one male) were identified, while the remains of two other adults (both appear to have been female) were identified in the associated disarticulated bones. None of the burials were fully excavated due to the vulnerable nature of the site. Two of the individuals had been buried together, and both individuals had suffered extensive peri-mortem sharp-force trauma injuries. A large boulder overlying the double burial may have been part of the burial rite. AMS dating is proposed. Following the excavation, the resulting hollows were reinstated using sand that had eroded off the sand-cliff. This project was funded in full by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Arts, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht.

c/o Munster Archaeology, Ballymacredmon, Butlerstown, Bandon, Co. Cork