Urn burial

The National Monuments Service's description

At the rear of a modern dwelling, located inside a large field system (LI048-034001-), in
W quadrant of an archaeological complex (LI048-034006/042-) located on the 'Supposed Site of Temaír Erann', which was the ancient cemetery of the Ernai tribe on Slievereagh (Sliabh Riabhach) (Westropp 1919, 9; Westropp 1917-19, 179; Westropp 1918, 111).
Urn burial (Burial B) discovered by a farmer digging potatoes in 1967 and excavated by Rynne and O’Sullivan (1966-67, 103-107) on behalf of the National Museum of Ireland. A second urn burial (LI048-034013-) was revealed during the excavations 1.45m to the SW. Excavations uncovered the remains of an urn burial described by Rynne and O’Sullivan (1966-67, 106) as follows; ‘During the investigation of the above-described urn-burial [LI048-034013-], some fragments of cremated human bones were discovered in the vicinity of the large boulder, 1.75m to the E.N.E. This boulder measured 100cm by 70cm by 45cm in maximum length, breadth and thickness respectively, and on excavation proved to be a natural feature and not the capstone of a cist-grave as had been suspected.
During the exploratory excavation of the boulder, a second urn-burial was discovered, 1.45m distant from the first burial [LI048-034013-], and 17cm from the boulder. This vessel was also a Cinerary Urn but was not inverted; it rested at a slight tilt on its flat bottom. The rim portion of the vessel had been damaged during the potato-digging earlier in the year or perhaps during previous years, but several sherds belonging to it were recovered from its vicinity. It contained cremated human bones, many fragments of which were also found in its vicinity, likewise disturbed by the earlier potato-digging, the bones discovered near the boulder during the investigation of the first urn-burial probably also belong to this burial. A small fragment of very thin and corroded bronze, probably portion of a blade which had accompanied this burial, was found among some cremated bones 20cm from the vessel. No clear trace of any pit was noticed, but the area surround the burial, extending about 100cm from the boulder and about 60cm across, contained many small rounded stones, varying between about 5cm and 10cm in thickness, which may perhaps be interpreted as packing-stones filling a pit.’

See attached drawings from Rynne and O’Sullivan.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 7 September 2021

References

Rynne, E. and O’Sullivan, J. C. 1966-67 Two urn-burials from Cush, Co. Limerick. North Munster Archaeological Journal, 103-107.

Westropp, T.J. 1917-19 The Earthworks, Traditions, and the Gods of South-Eastern Co. Limerick, Especially from Knocklong to Temair Erann. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy: Archaeology, Culture, History, Literature 34, 127-183.

Ó Ríordáin, S.P. 1940 Excavations at Cush, Co. Limerick (1934 and 1935). Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 45, 83-181.

Kavanagh, R.M. 1976 Collared and cordoned cinerary urns in Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 76C, 349-350.