Cremation in Ancient Ireland

Newgrange Cremation burial Chamber c.3,000 B.C. – Painting courtesy of Tina Negus

The Library of Ireland offers drawing and more information –just click. Urns with ashes and burnt bones have been found in ancient graves in every part of Ireland. Cremations in Ireland were carried out by the Stone Age people between 7000-2000 BC. Cremated remains were placed in stone structures such as passage tombs as well as small stone basins, which are thought to have served as resting places for the deceased. In ancient pagan Ireland, ashes and bone fragments were deposited in an ornamented urn, generally made of baked clay, but sometimes of stone instead. Cremation was extensively practiced in pagan Ireland. Read More Here