Linkardstown burial

The National Monuments Service's description

Marked as a scrub-covered feature (diam. c. 25m) on the 1839 and 1924 eds of the OS 6-inch map, and situated on a N-facing slope of the valley of the NE-SW River Bann with the stream c. 420m to the NW. A mound (diam. c. 35m; H c. 3m) was being removed in 1949 when a cairn of stones (diam. c. 8m; H c. 1m) surrounding a Linkardstown-type cist was uncovered, and investigated. The cist was alinged NE-SW and consisted of four stones leaning inwards (dims. of top 1.26m x 0.36m; dims. of base 1.6m x 0.5m; H 0.65m). Above the side-stones were corbels and a single oval roofstone (dims. 1.25m x 0.8m; T 0.1m). The cist contained the inhumed remains of a single individual, but it is not known whether the burial was crouched or extended, and fragments of a bowl, with incised decoration of Neolithic character (Eogan and Herity 1977, 107, Fig. 27,4). The cairn had been covered by the mound, which had been surrounded by a shallow fosse (Wth 2.5m; D 0.3m) that might not have been original. Nothing is visible now at ground level just outside the NE angle of a farm complex. The church (WX016-003----) was c. 90m to the WSW, but completely unrelated. (Lucas 1950)

The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research.

Compiled by: Michael Moore

Date of upload/revision: 12 April, 2012

References

Herity, M. and Eogan, G. 1977 Ireland in Prehistory. London. Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Lucas, A. T. 1950 Neolithic burial at Norrismount, Co. Wexford. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland vol. 80, 155-7.