By Dara Bradley

The discovery of a skull pierced by an iron arrowhead as part of skeleton remains found in a shallow grave has sparked a murder mystery in a Galway village – 1,000 years after the gruesome assault!
Recent quarrying in an esker in the townland of Tisaxon, close to Newcastle, Athenry, revealed human remains exposed in the quarry face.

The archaeological work has just been completed by local archaeologist Martin Fitzpatrick of Arch Consultancy Ltd, who was funded by the National Monuments Service, which comes under the remit of Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan.

Excavation indicated that the burial was in a shallow grave and the body, which was that of an adult male aged between 17 and 25. The body was lying on its side and crouched rather than having been laid out.

A small hole in the skull was the only noticeable blemish in the skeleton that was otherwise in good condition.

Further examination by osteoarchaeologist Caoimhe Tobin revealed that the wound was inflicted by a small, socketed, iron arrowhead which had pierced the skull.

The arrowhead measured 4cm in length and was recovered from the interior of the skull. Preliminary analysis suggests it dates to the 9th or 10th century.

Also exposed were traces of an underground passage in another face of the same quarry.

The ‘passage feature’ proved to be the ‘creep’ of a souterrain or underground chamber usually used for refuge and storage. Dating from the 9th century onwards these monuments are often associated with ringforts.

Mr Fitzpatrick explained that while there is no ringfort associated with this souterrain the ecclesiastical site of Templemoyle lies to the immediate east.

He added: “The archaeological significance of Templemoye is evident in the features associated with it. These features include an early ecclesiastical enclosure, a well, graveyard, church, cemetery, a field system and the adjacent Tisaxon – from which the townland gets its name.”

He said the church and graveyard are noteworthy in that they are sited on the esker ridge which originally extended North East of the church.
Since 1952 a number of burials have been uncovered during the extraction of sand and gravel from this area. In 1979 a graveslab bearing the inscription OROIT AR MAELPOIL and a large bronze-coated iron hand bell of 7th-9th century date were discovered at the site.

The most recent quarrying activity took place to the west of the church and graveyard, which uncovered the skeleton that has led to unanswered questions about the death of the man 1000 years ago.
 

Mr Fitzpatrick said: “The findings indicate that all is not as it seems on this idyllic esker overlooking the surrounding marshy land. One thousand years ago a man pierced through the head with an arrow was hastily buried in a shallow grave. Who was he? Was there a battle or an attack on the site? Are there other graves in the area with similar wounds? Is his death associated with the previously unrecorded souterrain that was also discovered as a result of quarrying?

“It appears that the excavations have raised more questions than they have answered. One thing however is assured – that is the archaeological and historical significance of the area of Templemoyle and Tisaxon.”