Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

Unlocated burial within the townland of Greenville or Garryduff. The files of the National Museum of Ireland recorded that in 1934 a human skull was discovered in a short cist during construction work at Greenville or Garryduff, Ballycumber, Co. Offaly (Cahill & Sikora 2011, vol. 2, 508). The workmen were in the process of making a fence or ditch around a new cottage plot, reportedly on the lands of Mr Hacket in the townland of Greenville or Garryduff. The discovery was reported to the Gardai, who reported it to the Coroner, Dr Meagher of Ferbane, Co. Offaly. Dr Meagher in turn contacted the National Museum, and also Liam Price. The site was not visited by NMI personnel but Dr Meagher carried out an inspection of the site and reported to the National Museum. According to reports, a human skull was found in a small ploygonal cist-like structure partly sealed by a capstone. It lay approximately 0.58m (23 inches) below ground level, and measured c. 0.45m (18 inches) deep. The grave is described as very well built, with the walls composed of six upright flat slabs, with the flat sides facing inwards, neatly placed in position. Meagher reports that the grave was 'so regularly built that the measurements would be the same at the bottom as at the top'. The base of the grave was not paved, but formed of yellow clay. A sketch of the grave indicates that it measured approximately 0.63m in maximum width. Only a portion of the grave, on the north side, was covered by a capstone. This is described as almost square and measuring approximately 0.6m x 0.6m x 0.07m thick. There is no evidence for anything other than a human skull being contained in the cist. The area was searched for associated artefacts and other bones, but none were found. It would appear therfore that this is a skull burial. The remains (1934:5596) were sent to the NMI but do not appear to have been examined at the time, although Gogan mentions that they would be sent to Dr McLoughlin (NMI file).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 10 August 2012

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.