Kinnegar Shore Burial Cairn / Cist

A cist covered by a flagstone 2' × 3' in a cairn partially destroyed by sea erosion was reported here in 1935 (McCallien 1935, 329-33). Skeletal material of a cremated individual was associated with the cist and a green staining of some of the bone fragments suggest that they had been in contact with a bronze or copper object. The cairn was located on the shore at the N end of Kinnegar Strand on the W side of Lough Swilly. Nothing now survives except perhaps some large stones strewn in the sand. The beach is unfortunately quarried for sand. Recently a ringed-pin of possible Viking/Irish type has been found here on the beach (Richard Warner per. comm.). McCallien suggested that there was probably 'more of archaeological interest buried beneath the sand dunes' behind the strand. Although the cist was originally assigned to the Bronze Age, there was no specific evidence to support this. The site has been recently inspected by Richard Warner of the Ulster Museum who now believes it may possibly be the location of a Viking cemetery (Warner forthcoming). The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008