Cist

The National Monuments Service's description

Originally close to the confluence of the King's River and the River Liffey; now covered by the Blessington Reservoir. A short rectangular cist (dims. 0.75m x 0.42m), discovered in 1934 and excavated by Liam Gógan, produced an inverted encrusted urn containing a cremation, and an inverted vase food vessel. (Waddell 1990, 159; Kavanagh 1973, 569). Analysis of the cremated remains by Laureen Buckley (in Cahill and Sikora 2011, Vol. 1, 646-53) showed that they were of a female, aged 13-15 years at time of death. Two convex end scrapers and a piece of broken flint were found during analysis of the cremated remains (ibid., 646).

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wicklow' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1997). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Revised by: Claire Breen

Date of upload: 24 July 2012

References

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

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.

Waddell, J. 1990 The Bronze Age burials of Ireland. Galway University Press.