What is recorded here

Cist in Ballyeeskeen is a cist in Ballyeeskeen, County Sligo, Ireland. It appeared inside an unclassified barrow during 1963 excavations for road-widening works on the N 59 Sligo-Ballina road. The structure marked a secondary phase at the barrow, holding cremated adult bones and a chert waste flake beside another cremated pit-burial.

In an unclassified barrow (SL012-053001-). This cist was discovered when the barrow was fully excavated in 1963 in advance of road-widening works on the N 59 Sligo-Ballina road (Danaher 1964). The cist represented a secondary phase of activity at the barrow. A hole was dug into the summit of the barrow on its W side and the cist was constructed in the hole. The cist (L 0.45m; W 0.3m) was subrectangular in plan, with each of the four sides built of a double wall of small slabs set on edge. It was roofed by a single capstone (L 1m; Wth 0.85m; T 0.12m). The floor was paved with three slabs. The cist contained the cremated bones of an adult human of unknown gender. A waste flake of chert was found with the bones. A pit-burial (SL012-053003-), also containing cremated remains, was inserted into the E side of the barrow.

A Bronze Age cist tomb, dating to approximately 2000–800 BCE, associated with an unclassified barrow. Its significance lies in providing insights into early burial practices and the funerary customs of the Bronze Age in the region.

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