- Knockaunmore, Co. Kerry, Kerry

In October 1957 human remains were discovered on a farm at Knockaunmore, Abbeydorney, Co. Kerry.³⁶ Abbeydorney (td Knockaunmore) is a Cistercian abbey founded in 1154 as a daughter-house of Monasteranenagh, Co. Limerick. Local tradition states that an earlier church and graveyard lie to the south-east (Toal 1995, 257). The abbey is built on an esker, which was being levelled by a bulldozer when the human remains were found. Members of the Kerry Field Club visited the site a number of days later and reported the find to the NMI. Their account states that two complete skeletons and three skulls were found; the complete skeletons lay west/east, one on top of the other. The upper burial was apparently ‘face down’.³⁷ The report states that ‘a quantity of black mould’ was visible around the burials, but it did not appear that there was an ‘attempt at making a regular grave of earth or [a] tomb’. The burials were reportedly close to the ground surface and, according to the account received, ‘did not give . . . the impression of a very peaceful burial’. No associated artefacts were found with the bones.³⁸ The Field Club’s report states that the burials were found 32m east of the present wall surrounding the abbey graveyard, on the southern slope of the esker. The bones were forwarded to the Museum and were subsequently returned to the landowner, with instructions to have them reinterred. Although it is not possible to establish the exact relationship between the burials and the abbey, it is likely that these burials are in some way connected to the abbey graveyard, and may be medieval or post-medieval in date. It was customary to bury certain sectors of society outside the consecrated ground of the cemetery, e.g. in the case of suicide or insanity, and it may be that there were extenuating circumstances relating to the deaths of these individuals.

36. Parish of O’Dorney, barony of Clanmaurice. SMR KE021-144——. The exact location is not marked but the site is described as being 32m north-east of the wall. The SMR lists a number of associated sites here: KE021-053–KE021-05304, including ecclesiastical remains, the Cistercian abbey, graveyard, church and tower.
37. It is unclear whether the body was in a prone position or whether the skull was disturbed and faced downwards.
38. An object thought by the Kerry Field Club to be a piece of metal turned out to be a stone.