Six stone cists containing cremated human remains were uncovered during what appears to have been construction or agricultural work. The site wasn’t formally investigated by National Museum of Ireland staff at the time, leaving us with only a report from Garda B. McTernan as our primary contemporary source.

The most intriguing find came from one particular cist that held more than just cremated bones. Alongside the remains, which were later identified as those of a young adult female, archaeologists found an undecorated biconical miniature vessel; a small, waisted pot typical of the Early Bronze Age. A piece of unburnt antler was also recovered from the same burial, though its significance remains unclear. The miniature vessel provides our best clue for dating the cemetery, as these distinctive pottery forms are believed to have been produced between 1900 and 1800 BC, placing this burial site firmly within Ireland’s Early Bronze Age period.

While the human remains themselves haven’t been radiocarbon dated, the cemetery at Drumhaggart represents a typical Bronze Age burial practice where communities cremated their dead and interred them in stone cists, sometimes with grave goods. The presence of the miniature vessel suggests this particular woman held some significance in her community, as such items weren’t included in every burial. The site adds to our understanding of Bronze Age mortuary practices in Donegal, a county rich in prehistoric monuments but where many discoveries, like this one, came about through accident rather than systematic archaeological investigation.