Slab-lined burial

The National Monuments Service's description

Located beneath an elongated mound (MA008-010001-), on a cliff edge overlooking the E side of Lacken Bay. This is one of two cists (see also MA008-010003-) discovered in 1990 during the Fás-sponsored construction of a road, which cut through the mound. A rescue excavation of the cists was undertaken in the same year by the National Museum (NMI Reg. No. 1990:54) (Cahill and Sikora 2011, 102-6).
This cist (int. 1.62m E–W; 0.48m N–S; H 0.4m) had been disturbed, but remained largely intact. It was trapezoidal in plan, constructed of thin, shale slabs set on edge. The N side was formed of two slabs, one of which was exceptionally long (L 1.14m); three slabs formed the S side. Single slabs closed the E and W ends of the grave. It was roofed with flat slabs, six of which were found in a disturbed condition. Hard, compact sand formed the floor of the cist. No skeletal remains survived (Cahill and Sikora 2011, 102-6). The second cist (MA008-010003-) was situated 0.85m to NW, also beneath the mound. The exact relationship of the burials to the mound is uncertain.

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 1 July 2019

References

Cahill, M. and Sikora, M. (eds) 2011 Breaking ground, finding graves - reports on the excavations of burials by the National Museum of Ireland, 1927-2006, 2 vols. Dublin. Wordwell Ltd. in association with the National Museum of Ireland.