Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

In reclaimed pasture, in centre 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). Located within a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 75m to NE and three bowl-barrows (LI048-034010-/012-) lie 10m to NE. Cist excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 124-125) between 1934-5, the result of which were described as following ; ‘In connection with our study of the ancient field division we decided to excavate for comparative purposed a section of a modern field fence. To do this we began the cutting of a section through the earth and stone fence dividing the Western Field from that containing the Tumuli (LI048-034010-/012-). When the workmen had removed the sods at the margin of the channel running by the side of the fence, they came upon a small cist grave. This being reported we suspended the work of cutting a section through the fence and excavated the cist.
There was no covering stone in position nor any stones to form one end of the grave. One side was formed by a stone about 3¾ feet [1.14m]. The other side was formed by two slabs, one having a length of 2¼ feet [0.68m] and a thickness of about 4 inches [0.1m], the other being the same thickness but only about 1 foot in length. This latter was not, because of pressure from the side, quite in the same straight line with the long slab. Of the end which in part remained we found two stones in position, one an irregularly shaped very soft piece of clay stone, while the other was a small and irregular sand stone fitting between the former and the large block which formed one of the sides of the cist. The floor of the cist was formed in the nature of a “crazy pavement” of slabs. On this paving rested the burial; it was a cremated one, partly contained in two food vessels but partly lying upon the floor of the cist. One of the vessels was rather badly broken, the other only slightly cracked. Both have in the meantime been restored by Miss Barnes of the National Museum. It will be seen from the plan that the side of the cist are not parallel. Its length was about 3 feet [0.9m] which the mean breadth was slightly over 2 feet [0.6m]. No sign of a previously existing tumulus or other surface indications could be noticed at the site of the discovery of the cist grave.’ Examination of the cremated bone recorded that ‘the identifiable fragments belong to one young adult and one child, about 2 or 3 years of age’ (ibid. 172). No surface remains visible of excavated cist.

See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 31 August 2021

References

Westropp, T.J. 1919 The ancient places of assembly in the counties Limerick and Clare. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 49, 1-24.

Westropp, T.J. 1916-17 On certain typical earthworks and ring walls in Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 33C, 9-42, 444-92.

Waddell, J. 1970 Irish Bronze Age cists, a survey. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 100, 91-139.

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

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.

Westropp, T.J. 1918 Temair Erann, an Ancient Cemetery of the Ernai on Slievereagh, County Limerick. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland, 111-20.