Cist, Liscooly, Co. Donegal

Co. Donegal |

Burial Sites

Cist, Liscooly, Co. Donegal

On gently rolling farmland near Liscooly in County Donegal, archaeologists uncovered a remarkable Bronze Age cemetery in 2004.

The site revealed three confirmed short cists and a fourth possible funerary monument, offering a rare glimpse into prehistoric burial practices in this part of Ireland. The second cist, excavated that same year by Buckley and Buckley for the National Museum of Ireland, sits about 2.2 metres east-southeast of the first burial chamber.

This particular cist showcases the careful construction methods of our ancestors. The rectangular stone chamber, measuring roughly 0.36 metres by 0.91 metres internally and 0.3 metres deep, was built using single slabs set on edge for three of its sides, whilst the eastern side featured two interlocking slabs. A single flat stone formed the floor, and the entire structure was sealed with a substantial capstone measuring 1.3 metres long. The builders oriented the chamber along a north-northeast to south-southwest axis, following burial traditions of the period.

Inside, archaeologists discovered the cremated remains of a young adult, carefully placed in a conical mound in the eastern portion of the chamber. A simple pottery bowl decorated with impressed designs had been positioned in the western corner, likely containing grave goods or offerings for the deceased. This combination of cremated remains and pottery vessels represents typical Bronze Age burial customs in Ireland, where communities took great care in preparing their dead for the afterlife. The excavation, conducted under licence 04E0505, has provided valuable insights into the funerary practices and craftsmanship of Ireland's prehistoric inhabitants.

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