Cist in Hempstown Commons

In 1937, the discovery of a cist in a sand pit in Hempstown Commons was reported but upon investigation it was found that it had been opened sometime previously and its contents were much disturbed. The rectangular cist (dims. L 1.06m NE-SW; Wth 0.44m; D 0.61m) had three sides formed by single slabs set on edge and the fourth was of dry stone walling covered by a flat slab. It was covered by a large subrectangular capstone (L 1.34m; Wth 1.02m) and contained the fragmentary remains of the crouched skeleton of an adult female lying on her right side and possibly accompanied by a ceramic vessel and small pieces of chert and ‘ochreous pebbles’. (Cahill and Sikora 2011, Vol 1, 221-23) A second cist (KD020-015001-) lies c. 300m to the ENE. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011

Cist in Hempstown Commons is a small stone burial chamber, likely dating to the Early Christian or medieval period. Its significance lies in its role as a local burial monument, though its contents were disturbed prior to formal investigation.