2004:0403 - LISCOOLY, Donegal

Excavated under Section 16 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1954, this cist was the first of four to be discovered during construction works on a farm at Liscooly. The three additional cists were excavated by Victory Buckley (04E0505, report not received). The cist was rectangular in plan, with its long axis oriented north-south. Internally, the structure measured 1.17m long by 0.67m wide by 0.51m high. It was originally formed of five slabs: a single edge-set slab at the south and north ends, and one at the east side; the west side was formed of two slabs, one placed on top of the other. The northern end-stone had been displaced by the bulldozing works. The floor of the cist was paved with three slabs. No capstone was visible in the area, but, given that much of the topsoil had already been removed, it is possible that the capstone had been moved from its original location. The cist had originally contained an inhumation and a bipartite bowl, but, as these had already been removed, their original position is not known. The inhumation represents the remains of a young adult male.