Page 46 - GAHS Journal Volume 9

EARLY BRONZE AGE BURIALS IN WICKLOW

Early Bronze Age Burials in Wicklow

Dr Eoin Grogan and Dr Tom Hillery

The following is an extract from a booklet, produced by the above
authors, with illustrations by Sarah Cross, entitled 'A Guide to the
Archaeology of County Wicklow'. Published in 1993, it has not
been widely available for some time and, as it contains a wealth
of information on many of the archaeological sites in County
Wicklow which are of interest, the Society plans to provide an
un-abridged copy of the Guide on its website in the near future.

Introduction

A
wide variety of practices were developed in the Early Bronze
Age (circa 2200-1600 BC) with regard to formal burial.
Initially the remains of the dead were placed, either unburnt (with
the body placed in a crouched position on its side) or cremated,
into a small cist and accompanied by a pottery vessel (Food
1
Vessel) which stood upright beside the body on the floor of the
grave. Gradually the practice of burying unburnt bodies was
discontinued and by circa 1800 BC the vast majority of burials
were cremations. Around this time larger pottery vessels
2
(cinerary urns ) were placed in the graves and were used as
containers for the bone, usually turned upside-down over the
remains. At this stage the custom of lining the graves with stone
slabs to form cists began to die out and the burials were placed

1 Slab lined, usually rectangular, pit in which the remains of the dead were
deposited in the Bronze Age. The cist usually had a capstone and was
floored using a single slab or rough paving.
2 Larger pottery vessels placed in graves and used as containers for bone,
usually turned upside down over the remains.
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