Urn burial

The National Monuments Service's description

In pasture, on N-facing slope, overlooking plain of Duhallow. In 1936, 'when ploughing for corn' (Broker 1937, 54), the landowner 'unearthed anancient urn which was broken by the plough....inverted on a flagstone very little wider than itself'; vessel described as '18 inches high and 12 inches wide'. Kavanagh (1973, 536) regards this as 'very unusual shape' for vessel of this type and doubts its accuracy. Slab (0.54m x 0.26m; Wth 0.07m) on which urn rested now lies on field fence at S end of field. Five small sherds of vessel now in National Museum, Dublin. Kavanagh (ibid.) dentifies them as part of an Encrusted Urn; internally, three bands and grooves extend 4cm below rim; externally, broad applied ribs create panelled effect; traces of perforation below decorative bands; body sherd slightly incised with alternating oblique strokes.

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 3: Mid Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Date of upload/revision: 14 January 2009