Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

Discovered in 1832 when 'several hundred tons of stone' (Borlase 1897, 13) were removed from cairn (CO0354-04902) and 'a chamber was found, formed of rude flags' (ibid.). In this was found 'the fragment of an urn' (ibid.) which apparently was 'broken by the workmen, to ascertain whether it contained money' (Lewis 1837, vol.1, 301). According to the antiquarian John Windele, 'in an adjoining chamber another urn was found containing a small quantity of ashes, on April 6th, 1837' (Borlase ibid.); Windele drew the vessel (see Gogan 1929, fig. 1) which he described as follows: 'Height 5 1/2 inches; diamater at top 5 3/4 inches; breadth at base 3 inches; thickness 3/16ths of an inch. It was of a pale reddish colour, of unbaked [?] sic. clay, and rudely carved with lozenges etc. It had a conical sort of cap' (Borlase ibid.). This vessel disappeared c. 1849 (O Murchu n.d., 42); Doody (1986, Cork No.16) identifies it as probably a Food Vessel Vase.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 4: North Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2000). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009