2021:727 - Ballynamona, Durrow, Offaly

An archaeological survey and rescue excavation was carried out at the request of the National Monuments Service following a report from the State Pathology Unit that human remains had been recovered during the excavations of two gravel pits. Fieldwork was carried out in December of 2021 under supervision of osteoarchaeologist Glenn Gibney. The site is located in an agricultural field in the townland of Ballynamona, Durrow, Co. Offaly, north of Silver River and adjacent to and east of road L2003. It is not listed in the Record of Monuments and Places. Archaeological excavation began on 9 December 2021 and concluded on 20 December 2021.

The section faces of both gravel pits were cleaned and all archaeological features identified were recorded. A total of 26 features were identified. These consisted of 21 burials, 4 possible burials and 1 charnel pit. Some of the human remains were considered vulnerable and were loose within the section faces of the pits and were lifted. However, many were also considered to be stable within the soil matrix and were preserved in situ. There was a high degree of intercutting burials at Ballynamona as well as the reburying of disturbed remains.
Intercutting could be clearly seen with Burial 2 which cut Burial 1 in Pit 1. Reburying of previously disturbed remains appeared both purposeful and haphazard. C53 was a large charnel pit found on the eastern side of Pit 2 and contained the remains of at least 5 individuals, 3 adults, 1 juvenile/adolescent and 1 infant. 22 burials were identified on site containing the remains or partial remains of 24 individuals. Of these, 10 were preserved in situ, 8 were partially excavated and 6 were fully excavated. Only 1 individual, SK2, was a complete
skeleton. In addition to the 14 partially or fully excavated individuals, 2273 fragments of disarticulated human bone were also recovered. The minimum number of individuals (MNI) from the Ballynamona assemblage was 29, 21 adults and 8 non-adults. However, this number is likely higher. Adults were counted based on the distal right femur; 11 in the disarticulated assemblage, 9 preserved in  situ and 1 in the articulated assemblage. Non-adults (excluding infants) were based on the petrous portion of the left temporal; 3 in the disarticulated collection and 3 in the articulated assemblage. 2 infants were identified in the disarticulated collection based on the proximal left femur.

Preservation of the remains was considered good. However, much of the assemblage was subjected to post-depositional fragmentation. This was due to both recent and historic disturbances. Demographic data collection and analysis was difficult due to the incomplete nature of the assemblage. Only 4 of the articulated adults could be accurately sexed and they comprised of 1 male, 2 possibly females and 1 female. Of the 7 non-adult articulated individuals, over half (n=5/7) died by the time they reached 7 years of age.

No datable artefacts were recovered during excavation works. A single quartz pebble (21E0836:56:1) was found in the soil sample from Burial 22. However, it is not known if this was purposely placed within the grave or if it was intrusive due to intercutting.

Based on the location of the remains on a gravel ridge, the orientation of the burials and the lack of artefacts, the cemetery most likely dates to the Early Medieval period. A programme of radiocarbon dates should provide more information.

Excavation work is now complete. The pits were backfilled in October 2022. Both were backfilled from the south in order to minimise any further disturbance.

Unit 21 Boyne Business Park, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth. A92 DH99.