Piscina, Monsea Church Ruins (TN020-028001-)

13th century pointed trefoil cusped piscina with roll-moulded jambstones at the eastern end of the southern wall of Monsea church ruins (TN020-028001-), County Tipperary. The word piscina comes from the Latin piscine meaning fish-pond, or reservoir and is used to a describe a stone bowl with a drain-hole located near the altar of a church for the disposing of water used in the rituals of the Mass. Other words used to describe this feature included lavacrum, lavatorium or sacrarium, the latter word often referring to the drainage hole. The drain hole is decorated with a 16-leafed floral pattern, water poured into this bowl drains down into the ground through a channel in the wall of the medieval church. The washing of the priest’s hands and the items used in the ritual of mass was an essential part of the religious rite known as ablutions. Psalm 26:6: 'I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar'. For information on Monsea, visit: https://maps.archaeology.ie/HistoricEnvironment/?SMRS=TN020-028001-