Urn Burial at Slaghtaverty, Parish of Errigal, County Londonderry

This was discovered at a depth of 3 feet by workmen widening a lane. Mr Joseph Mc Keever reported this to the local Royal Ulster Constabulary. He gathered the sherds that contained bone remains.

The find was 2 miles south west of Garvagh, 70 yards from the main road from Farrentemple to Brockaboy, on the left hand side of the lane which leads to the ruined cairn at Slaghtaverty. The cairn is believed to be the grave of Abhartach, a local dwarf.

Professor Walmsley opined that they were the incinerated remains of an adult female human with parts of skull, ribs, and limbs. The condition suggests late bronze-age.

The urn is tall and was felt to be late Bronze Age averaging 7/8 inches thick. The lip has triangular depressions and the reddish brown surface scored with coarse lines.

Reference

A McL May 1946 Ulster Journal of Archaeology Third Series, Vol 9 (1946) pp 104-105 (2pages) Published by Ulster Archaeological Society  https://www.jstor.org/stable/20566507

For more information on Andrew May, explore the following links:

• Andrew McLean May: Pioneer of local archaeology and horticulture

• Andrew McL May and those who knew him

Other Andrew May excavations:

• Bronze Age Burials, Knocknacart

• Sweat Houses of County Londonderry

• Rock-Hewn Souterrain, Ballintemple

• A decorated bone case from Dreenan Bog

• Some Wooden Utensils from Tyance, Moyagoney and Dreenan Bog

• Pointed Bones, Flints and Stone Discs from the Lower Bann

• Cloghnagalla Cairn

• Cornacleary Round Cairn

• A wooden javelin from Altinure

• Two Cairns at Gortacloghan

• Cremation Burials at Gortfad, Co. Londonderry

• An Urn Burial at Slaghtaverty

• Mountsandel, Lower Site

• A Fine Spot for Fishing

• Iron Age Pits, Camus Coleraine