| Cistercian Archaeology Web Site |
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Western end of the church, within the eastern aisle. An excavation in 1977 revealed the original 13th century floor level which still contained the original floor tiles. The tiles were decorated either with fleur-de-lis, trefoil, quartrefoil, scrolled terminals, rosette, star and crescent or rose and crescent designs. The pavement is one of only two in Ireland which is in situ. Four panels were found and thirty-three types of decorative inlaid tiles were recovered. The pavement remained in use as the church floor until the dissolution in 1536. Thereafter fill began to accumulate above the floor and a number of burials were inserted. Duiske Abbey, County Kilkenny, Ireland. |