Cist, Mullagheep, Co. Donegal

Co. Donegal |

Burial Sites

Cist, Mullagheep, Co. Donegal

In the townland of Mullagheep, County Donegal, archaeologists have documented a modest Bronze Age burial cist that offers a glimpse into ancient funeral practices.

This stone burial chamber, built using the slab construction method typical of the period, measures 61 centimetres by 38 centimetres and extends 41 centimetres deep into the ground. When excavated, the cist revealed cremated human remains scattered across its floor, accompanied by a single vase foodvessel; a ceramic container that would have held offerings for the deceased's journey to the afterlife, as documented by researcher Raftery in the 1940s.

What makes this site particularly intriguing is the presence of a second, larger cist located approximately 30 metres to the northeast. Though this companion burial also contained human bones, no pottery was found within it, suggesting either different burial customs or social distinctions between the two interments. The absence of grave goods in the larger cist, now held in the National Museum of Ireland's collections, raises questions about whether this represents a difference in status, chronology, or ritual practice.

These cists form part of County Donegal's rich archaeological landscape, which spans from the Mesolithic period through to the 17th century. The information about these burials comes from the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, compiled by Brian Lacey and his team in 1983, with subsequent revisions bringing the data up to date. Such Bronze Age cists are relatively common across Ireland, but each one adds another piece to our understanding of how prehistoric communities honoured their dead and what they believed about the world beyond.

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