Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

A cist containing a skeleton, below which may have been a second cist was found during ploughing operations in the vicinity of Timogue (JRSAI 1858-9, 106). Unlocated cist within townland that was discovered in the late nineteenth century and described by D. O'Byrne as 'the ploughman of Mr. Budds, of Timogue, was employed ploughing, the ploughshare struck on a very large flag, which emitted a hollow sound; this emitment caused the man to consider that something strange lay below the flag; consequently he dug the earth from off the flag, raised it up, and found a human skeleton lying in a cist nothing of metallic substance. The members of this skeleton were very large, and envinced that the once living being was a man of powerful strength. On removing the remains the man struck a flag lying beneath the remains; the flag gave a deep and hollow sound; he repeatedly struck it with his spade, and by doing so ascertained that another apartment, more deep rested beneath. He became timorous, and left an interesting curiosity in the wilds of scruple, and in the form of an expiation returned the remains to their primitive resting place, replacing the flag, and also the earth over it' (JRSAI V, 1858.59, pp. 105-06).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien
Date of upload: 17 December 2007