Flat cemetery in Carn (rathconrath By.)

The precise location is now unknown of a flat cemetery consisting of five cist-graves that were recorded in the townland of Carn by Macalister (1921, 343-4; Waddell 1970, 133). The capstone of a cist-grave was uncovered during ploughing activity in 1748 (ibid). This event was described as following; 'In March, 1748, while some ploughmen were tilling lands upon Carne, the estate of Keedah Geoghagen, esq; about seven miles west of Mullingar, in the county of Westmeath, the plough, cutting through a sandy hillock which lay in the middle of the field, turned up a flag stone, about four feet long and three broad. Underneath they discovered a grave, or rather osssuary, to which this stone had served as a cover. The bottom, sides, and ends of the grave were composed each of a single slab. Within were deposited the bones of a human body' (Pococke 1773, 32). The cist contained a large skeleton of a male, an urn and a gold ring which was studded with diamonds. A clay fragment covering the head appears to have survived initially but disintegrated upon handling (ibid). This cist was also mentioned by Brewer in 1826 (SMR file). Pococke (1773, 33) wen on to record that, 'This discovery leading to a further search, five other graves of a similar construction, but of smaller dimensions, having only human bones in them, were also found. These were disposed in a regular form, so as nearly to environ the larger sepulchre; two being placed on each side, and one at the feet'. This flat cemetery was described in 1984 as no surface remains visible and no local knowledge of where these cists was located within the townland of Carn. Compiled by Alison McQueen, Vera Rahilly and Caimin O’Brien. Date of upload: 27 August 2019