Sites and Monuments Record · Ireland
Cremated remains
Cush, County Limerick, Ireland
The record
- Townland
- Cush
- County
- Limerick
- Country
- Ireland
- First-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Latest-edition OS map
- Not indicated
- Coordinates
- 52.38190, -8.44454
- SMR number
- LI048-034040-
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
4 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1790 map "Composite: Ireland." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1790 · Composite: Ireland. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1882 · Ireland (southern half). (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Ireland 16 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1904 · Sheet 13. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
This record in the National Monuments Service's Historic Environment Viewer ↗
The National Monuments Service's description
In rough 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). One of three bowl-barrows (LI048-034010/012-), within a large field system (LI048-034001-), ringfort (LI048-034008-) lies 30m to NE and a cist (LI048-034015-) lies 38m to SW. Bowl-barrow listed as Tumulus II (LI048-034012-) with cremated burial , excavated by Ó Ríordáin (1940, 137-8) between 1934-5. Cremated remains described by Ó Ríordáin as follows; 'on the old ground surface an area irregularly circular in outline and about 12 feet [4m] in diameter was found to be covered with a light charcoal deposit in which were scattered fragments of cremated bone. It was evident that this area was the site of a fire, on which, no doubt, the cremation had been carried out and over which the tumulus [LI048-034012-] had been built. Near the centre of the fire-blackened area was a hole somewhat elliptical in outline (diameters 11 inches [0.28m] and 9½ inches [0.24]) and 4 inches [0.1m] deep’. The hole contained cremated bones mixed with charcoal while near the top of the deposit, covered by a thin layer of charcoal, was a small ornamented bone plaque. This plaque had evidently been in the fire and its surface was cracked by the heat' (ibid. 137).
See attached plan from Ó Ríordáin.
Compiled by: Fiona Rooney
Date of upload: 30 August 2021
References
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.
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. 1918 Temair Erann, an Ancient Cemetery of the Ernai on Slievereagh, County Limerick. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquities of Ireland, 111-20.
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.
Nearby in the register
- Barrow - bowl-barrowunder 1 mi
- Urn burialunder 1 mi
- Cistunder 1 mi
- Barrow - bowl-barrowunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.