Burial mound in Tonduff

In November 1952 human remains were discovered following tree felling operations on a mound, on a farm near Abbeyleix, Co. Laois. Human remains had been found years previously as a result of tree felling, but were thought at the time to be animal bones. The bones were recognised as human when a skull was discovered (Cahill and Sikora 2011, vol 2, 363). The find was reported to the Garda Siochana at Abbeyleix, who visited the site and informed the coroner. The NMI was informed of the discovery after this visit, and the site was subsequently examined by P. J. Hartnett. Four graves were found in total, but all of these were very disturbed at the time of Hartnett's visit. The first grave was in the centre of the mound, the second at the west side, and the third at the southeast. The remains were not acquired by the NMI, but were reburied on site. The mound consisted of a low curvilinear platform or mound which sloped from north to south and rose to approximately 1m above the surrounding ground level. It is marked on the 2nd ed. OS 6-inch map as a curvilinear area occupied by trees. The area is sited on high ground between 100 and 110m above sea level. Hartnett's report states that a nearby field is locally called the Church Field but there were no known traditions about this particular site. The mound was bounded by a field fence along its west side. Some of the material from the mound had been used in making this fence, and a considerable amount appeared to have been removed and placed to the north beyoned the original edge thus giving it an oval plan. The original mound appears to have been roughly circular in plan measuring approximately 28m in diameter with a D-shaped appendix at the east. At the south quadrant there was a shallow ditch 3-4m wide (into which the edge of the platfrom bevelled) and a low outer bank 3-3.5m wide at the base. The ditch and bank was interrupted at the junction of the D-shaped enclosure and was no longer traceable beyond it, possibly owing to previous disturbance. Hartnett cut a short trial trench on the east side of the mound and found that the upper surface consisted of 0.40m to 0.70m of dark peaty humus. This upper layer ovarlay a 0.30m band of light coloured sand, underneath which was coarse grey sand which contained some large stones which appeared to form a kerb around the edge of the raised area. The burials were very disturbed at the time of Hartnett's visit, however the workers provided a description of the discovery. Grave 1 : unlined grave This was located close to the centre of the mound. It lay at a depth of approximately 0.70m below the surface of the mound underneath a layer of dark peaty soil. The area was re-opened by hartnett, but only the skull and upper body were uncovered. The burial appears to have been an inhumation orientated south-north. The remains were preserved in situ. Grave 2 : unlined grave This lay on the south-west slope of the mound. The grave was covered by 0.30m of peaty soil. A few large stones had been placed near the skull, which was intact when found. These stones were not visible at the time of Hartnett's visit. The burial was an extended inhumation. The skeletal remains were well-preserved but had been disturbed by workmen. According to the finders account the body lay in an extended position with the head to the north and the feet to the south. Grave 3 : possible stone-lined grave? This was located in the south-east end of the mound, in the 'annexe'. The bones were found in what was described as a built 'wall'. This had been removed by the finders by the time of Hartnett's visit. From the description the 'wall' appeared to be a facing of stones laid flat, perhaps one side of a cist. The bones and teeth were found close to these stones. The grave contained a few bones and teeth which were in poor condition. These were reburied on site. Grave 4 : unlined grave This was located approximately 5 metres south-west of grave 3. In removing the stump of a tree some bone was found mixed through the roots. No further information was available about this burial.