Flat cemetery in Ballinchalla

Eight cists and one pit burial discovered between 1933-1944, on a low-lying esker ridge (NMI). Cist 1: Long, slab-built cist (L 1.5m E-W) with a single floor slab and capstone. It contained an extended skeleton with head facing W (NMI). Cist 2: Long, rectangular slab-built cist (L 1.4m E-W; Wth 0.7m) with capstone and single floor slab. A pair of cross slabs divided it into three compartments, two of which contained cremated bones (NMI). Cist 3: 6m N of cist 2. Short, polygonal, slab-built cist (L 0.4m E-W; Wth 0.3m; D 0.3m) with floor slab and capstone. Contained an inverted vase urn which held the cremated bones of an infant (JGAHS 1943, 89-91). Cist 4: 30m E of cist 3. Short cist; orientated NE-SW, constructed of large side slabs, and divided into two compartments by transverse slab. NE compartment contained cremated bones and a highly decorated lidded vase (H 0.2m). SW compartment contained a cremation and a vase (JGAHS 1945, 100-2). Cist 5: 5m NW of cist 4. Short slab-built cist orientated NE-SW. Contained a vase, cremated bones and a 'fragment of bronze wire' (not preserved) (NMI). Cist 6: 8m SE of cist 5 and 3m SW of cist 4. Short cist, orientated NE-SW containing cremated bones and a plano-convex flint knife held in a bowl shaped 'grass container' (NMI). Cist 7: 6m N of cist 5. Short slab-built cist, orientated NE-SW, divided into two compartments by a transverse slab. No human remains or artifacts were discovered (NMI). Cist 8: 15m N of cist 7. Short slab-built cist with cobbled floor and capstone, orientated NE-SW. It contained cremated bones (NMI). Pit 1: Small polygonal pit containing cremated bones, charcoal and hare teeth (NMI). The above description has been derived from D. Lavelle (compiler), An Archaeological Survey of Ballinrobe and District including Lough Mask and Lough Carra. Lough Mask and Lough Carra Tourist Development Association (1994), No. 12. Date of upload: 5 December 2012