What is recorded here

Thirteen graveslabs were fished from the River Nore in 2001-2003, having been dragged from a lost graveyard to reinforce the piers of a late medieval bridge. One fragment still bears a plain centred cross with a single trefoil terminal, dating to the 13th or 14th century. The dead were moved so the living could cross, their names erased but their bones reordered into the foundation of passage.

Thirteen graveslabs were recovered from the River Nore during the archaeological excavations (01E980) carried out in 2001-2003 as part of the River Nore Drainage Scheme (Doyle and O’Meara 2004, 6-20). These were found associated with the late medieval bridge (KK019-026070-), immediately N of the current John’s Bridge (ibid. 7). It is suggested that the graveslabs were deliberately cleared from a graveyard, possibly belonging to either St Mary’s parish church (KK019-026115-) c. 100m to the W or to St John’s Priory (KK019-026068-) c. 200m to the NE, and used as part of the rubble needed to form a protective apron for the piers of the late medieval bridge (ibid. 16-19). The current location of this graveslab fragment is unknown. Fragment of a limestone graveslab (01E0980: 2310), only a piece (L 0.51m; Wth 0.32m; T 0.09m) of the upper portion survives (ibid. 14). It has been recut, the upper surface lightly punch dressed and it has light grey gritty mortar accretions on the undecorated face (ibid.). It is decorated with a plain centred incised cross, with only one trefoil terminal surviving (ibid.). Stylistically this dates to the 13th/14th century (ibid.). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 16 January 2023

Medieval Christian graveslabs; 13th to 16th century. These slabs are significant as they provide insight into burial practices and social history in medieval Kilkenny.

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