Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

In reclaimed pasture, ringfort (LI048-034008-) 27m to NE, two burial mounds (LI048-034011-012-) immediately to S. 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). Cist in centre of burial mound (LI048-034010-) listed as ‘Tumulus I’ which was excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 133-137) between 1934-5. An urn burial (LI048-034038-) had previously been uncovered in 1924 from the same burial mound. The long-cist (L. 1.9m; Wth. 0.6m) was revealed below ‘the centre of the mound’ and consisted of; ‘a long cist grave with a pot, which might be described as of “enlarged food-vessel” type, lying on its side near the uprights forming the southern side of the cist, and about one-third of the length of the cist from the western end. The cist had an interior length of 6 feet 3 inches [1.9m], and a breadth in parts of over 2 feet [0.6m]. The floor was covered with a paving of irregular flat stones. The long sides were each formed of three uprights stones; one end consisted of one large upright and the other of two lesser upright stones placed parallel. A setting of smaller stones provided support for the uprights' (ibid. 136). Described by Waddell (1970, 123) as a; ‘Long cist in tumulus [LI048-034038-]; long axis E-W, 6ft. 3ins x 2 ft; contained anomalous food vessel; no bones found’.

See attached plans and photos from Ó Ríordáin and Google Earth orthoimages.

Compiled by: Fiona Rooney

Date of upload: 27 August 2021

References

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.

Kavanagh, R.M. 1973 The Encrusted Urn in Ireland. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 73C, 507-617.

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

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.