First discovered in 2003 when coastal erosion exposed human bones along the inlet’s northern edge, this cemetery has revealed the remains of at least 22 individuals through two rescue excavations. The initial dig uncovered two complete skeletons of adult males, aged between 25 and 45, buried together in a single grave alongside partial remains of four others. What makes these burials particularly striking is the evidence of their brutal deaths; cut marks on ribs and neck vertebrae show clear signs of stabbing and decapitation, suggesting these men met their end through acts of extreme violence in the mid to late 7th century.

The cemetery appears to have been in use over an extended period, with bodies laid out in the traditional Christian manner, aligned east to west. A small upright stone slab near the original burials may have served as a grave marker, standing just 25 centimetres high. When erosion exposed more bones on the western side of the inlet in 2015, archaeologists returned to find an even larger burial ground. This second excavation revealed sixteen more skeletons, some covered with flat stone slabs, including nine children and seven adults, along with scattered human and animal bones that had been disturbed from their original positions.

The absence of grave goods and the simple nature of the burials, combined with the radiocarbon dating, places this cemetery firmly in the early Christian period of Irish history. The violent deaths recorded in the bones offer a rare glimpse into the harsh realities of life in 7th century Ireland, when territorial disputes, raids, and feuds could end in bloodshed. Today, as the Atlantic continues to erode the coastline, this ancient burial ground serves as a poignant reminder of both the fragility of archaeological sites and the turbulent history hidden beneath Ireland’s peaceful landscapes.