Graveyard

The National Monuments Service's description

James Graves reported the discovery of five articulated human burials after the removal of the pavement at the internal base of the round tower (KK019-026175-) at St Canice's Cathedral (KK019-026029-). All five burials were orientated E-W and two were contained in an oak coffin. The two burials within the coffin were identified as children by Graves and the skull of one of these individuals was retained and examined by a medical doctor, Dr. Crane. This skull seems to have been subsequently lost as it is no longer in the National Museum’s collection. The other three burials were adults; two of which burials were examined by Graves and Dr. Crane; the third burial was located at too great a depth to be examined safely. The crania of the retained burials were analysed by Dr. Crane (Graves and Prim 1857, 114-118). These two skulls were exhibited in the Kilkenny Museum (Kilkenny Moderator 8.6.1892) and are currently in the National Museum of Ireland’s Collections and Resource Centre. Analysis of the two skulls indicated they represent two adult males, one aged between 40-71 years and the other between 22 and 48 years, largely corroborating with the results of Dr. Crane’s analysis in the early 19th century (Ó Drisceoil 2013, 62). The two skulls were radiocarbon dated to AD 880-990 and AD 990-1150 (Ó Drisceoil 2018, 118).
Human skeletal burials recorded in excavations (13E0015) by Cóilín Ó Drisceoil 10m SE of the SE corner of the chancel of St Canice's Cathedral (KK019-026029-) (Ó Drisceoil 2013, 47). The burials were recorded in the sections of a Victorian pipe-trench and it was possible to discern nine interments, represented mainly by gravecuts rather than in-situ burials, in two separate phases. Following recording, all the interments were left in situ.
Emergency excavation of a new grave in the SW of the graveyard of St Canice's Cathedral (KK019-026029-) revealed seven in-situ adult burials aligned E-W with their heads to the W (Ó Drisceoil and Cahill 2013). Five phases of burial were identified, ranging from the 13th-19th centuries (ibid.). One probable medieval skull was heavily affected by tertiary syphilis; another female tibia showed evidence for a sharp-force trauma (ibid.).

Compiled by: Cóilín Ó Drisceoil

Date of upload: 13 November 2020

References

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2013 Archaeological monitoring report: Saint Canice’s Cathedral Graveyard (RMP KK 19-026171), Kilkenny City (13E0015). Unpublished report. Kilkenny Archaeology.

Ó Drisceoil, C and Cahill, J. 2013 Excavation Report: Human skeletal remains excavated at St. Canice’s graveyard (RMP KK 19-026171), Saint Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny City (unlicensed). Unpublished Report. Kilkenny Archaeology.

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2018 From Gaelic church settlements to Anglo-Norman towns: problems and possibilities. In H.B. Clarke and Sarah Gearty (ed.), More maps and texts: sources and the Irish Historic Towns Atlas, 115-34. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

Graves, J. and Prim, J.G.A. 1857 The history, architecture and antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. Dublin. Hodges, Smith and Company.

Ó Drisceoil, C. 2008 St Canice's Cathedral, Church Lane, Kilkenny: medieval graveyard. In I. Bennett (ed.) Excavations 2005, summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland, No. 811, 197-8. Bray. Wordwell.