Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

This record refers to a cist discovered in Ballyvicmaha townland in 1962. It was in a greatly disturbed condition when examined by Major R.B. Aldridge, who passed on details of the find to the National Museum. The exact location was not recorded (Cahill and Sikora 2011, 306-7).
It consisted of a wedge-shaped short cist (int. dims. L 60cm N–S; Wth 50cm E–W) constructed of four edge-set slabs, one on each side. It was roofed by a single, irregular-shaped capstone (L 0.74m; Wth 0.69m; T 0.13m), and was paved with a single slab, which did not cover the entire floor area. The cist contained fragments of cremated bone and a vase food vessel. The bipartite vase (H c. 0.12m; int. rim diam. 0.1m), now in the National Museum (1962:253), was found in a fragmentary condition, less than half of it preserved. It has a wide rim, bevelled internally, a concave neck and a rounded shoulder from which the sides slope down to a narrow base. It is decorated with ridges, and bands of slanting and vertical incised lines and scores, and has two small applied unperforated lugs. The vase dates the cist to the Bronze Age. (Cahill and Sikora 2011, 306-7).

Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 15 August 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. Two Volumes. Dublin, Wordwell Ltd. In association with the National Museum of Ireland.