Augherskea, Ireland

Clients: Margaret Gowen and Co Ltd

Author: Natasha Powers

Specialist Services' analysis of a medieval cemetery from Co Meath in Ireland for Margaret Gowen and Co Ltd resulted in the full recording of 24 sub-adults and 152 adults. The majority of the adults could not be given an estimate of sex due to poor preservation. The average height for males was 1.72m and for females 1.54m.

A number of robust middle-aged males had evidence of injuries from weapons. One of these had been decapitated, possible in a judicial execution. Another had evidence of a multiple blade injuries to the skull, including one which was very similar to an injury found on one of the individuals in a mass grave associated with the bloody battle of Towton (Yorkshire) (1461).

Unusual pathological conditions recorded in other burials include one case of enlargement of the incisive foramen as the result of cyst, several individuals with congenital spinal anomalies and two with malformed ribs. Single examples of a button osteoma, a probable case of secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and Paget's disease were also noted in the assemblage. Sixteen individuals (including three juveniles) had infectious changes, three cases possibly the result of tuberculosis and two further burials with definite indications of the disease. Finally, a number of possible multiple burials were identified by using the osteological information together with site plans and photos. The absence of any zoning of young juvenile burials and inclusion within the cemetery boundary of those who died violent deaths produces a contradictory picture of the funerary practices, which may indicate an inclusive cemetery, with no separate cillin (a site for the disposal of unconsecrated burials, particularly of children).

This site report is extracted from MoLAS 2004: annual review