Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

On the county boundary between Kilkenny and Carlow and located at the E end of a linear earthwork (KK016-006----; KK016-006001-; KK016-006002-; KK021-006----) known as, ‘Rathduff Trench’ which roughly E-W runs immediately outside the N quadrant. One of two cist burials found within a large enclosure (KK021-008----). According to the OS Letters (1839), ‘The Revd. W.K. Boroughs states that two small graves [KK021-008001-; KK021-008002-] were some years ago discovered at this rath about two feet [0.61m] under the surface, beside each other, the one that of a child, the other that of a full grown man. These graves were neatly flagged at the bottom and sides; one was eighteen inches [0.47m] long and fourteen [0.36m] high, the other three feet [0.91m] by eighteen inches [0.47m]. In each was found an earthen vessel of baked clay which was broken by the carelessness of the diggers. The bones were not charred by fire. This is a fine fort and formed one of a chain which seems to have separated two important ancient territories’ (O’Flanagan 1930, vol. 2, 23-4 (9)). According to Feeley (2008, 46) the monument had been quarried into for gravel.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 19 April 2021

References

Feeley, J. M. 2008 The Rathduff Trench: the gripe of the pig. Carloviana: Carlow Historical and Archaeological Society 57, 44-6.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Kilkenny collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839. Bray.