Early Medieval Archaeology (Ireland) Research Papers (original) (raw)

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- Archaeology, Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology, Metalwork (Archaeology)
- by Aidan O'Connell
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- Early Medieval Archaeology (Ireland)

Report on 1995 geophysical surveys and excavations carried out in conjunction with Channel 4 ‘Time Team’ Navan Quest; 1) the western ditch circuits at Haughey’s Fort, where evidence for an entranceway aligned toward the King’s Stables was uncovered; 2) investigation of crop mark double linear ditches in Creeveroe townland; 3) investigations at a large crop mark enclosure at Ballydoo revealing Early Christian period activity.

This paper looks at the various views of historical geographers, archaeologists and historians concerning the nature of settlement in early Ireland. It examines the way that the idea of 'tribalism' has shaped views of the past. How far... more

Strontium and oxygen isotope analysis has been performed on a selection of human teeth dating from late Iron Age and early Medieval Ireland to test the hypothesis that the appearance of new burial rites was associated with phases of migration from, and contact with, the Roman and Late Antique world. In particular, the appearance of crouched inhumations from the beginning of the 1st century CE, and the appearance of extended supine inhuma-tions alongside the reappearance of crouched burials after the c. 4th century CE are investigated. Isotopic data favours the presence of non-local individuals during both periods. As parallels for virtually all of these new burial practices can be found elsewhere, for example throughout Iron Age and Roman Britain, the data are seen to support previously proposed theories that such burial practices were intrusive and reflected new rites associated with migrant peoples. This adds to the increasing body of evidence demonstrating that rather than being isolated, Ireland was very much part of a connected Europe throughout the entire period of Roman administration in the western provinces, and in the centuries after its demise.

- by Eamonn P Kelly
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- Archaeology, Medieval Studies, Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology

'Excavation of a Multi-period Ecclesiastical Site at Aghavea, County Fermanagh', Ulster Journal of Archaeology, Vol 72, 2013–14, pp 112-141. Published in 2016.
Archaeological assessment and, later, limited excavation took place in 2000 at a greenfield site opposite Aghavea Church of Ireland church in Co Fermanagh. The church sits within an ecclesiastical enclosure of early date. The planned construction of a new hall and car park opposite the church, within the extrapolated confines of the church enclosure, necessitated archaeological investigation. Excavation of those areas where archaeological deposits were to be destroyed and the recording of exposed archaeological features everywhere else was carried out. Archaeological investigation showed the site to be multi-period and to contain significant rchaeological deposits of medieval date. Amongst the features uncovered were a ditch with internal palisade slot over which a structure was later built, various enclosure ditches, a metalled roadway leading to the church, and areas of industrial activity with bowl furnaces.

Archaeological investigations at Flemington, Balbriggan identified evidence for activity dating from the Neolithic through to the early medieval period. The main focus was an extensive ditch complex located on a ridge of high ground at the western edge of the site. Geophysical survey shows a dense complex of potential archaeological features extending over approximately 1 hectare within the development site and possibly extending over a further hectare beyond it. Thirteen phases of activity were identified, primarily dating to the early medieval period. While the main complex is superficially similar in size and scale to other early medieval enclosure complexes, it does not seem to fit as comfortable alongside these sites as it might initially appear; no settlement focus was identified, there was little evidence for habitation or structures and most of the identifiable activities would be classed as ancillary to a settlement or habitation site.

- by Seán Duffy
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- Irish Studies, Medieval History, Medieval Studies, Early Medieval History

The paper is introduced with a discussion of Dindsenchas; the medieval Gaelic lore of places, especially as it relates to the site of the mythic Battle of Moytura, in Co. Sligo. This was fought between the Tuatha de Danann and the Fomorians; opposing forces of good and evil in the pagan Gaelic pantheon, who contested the sovereignty of Ireland. Moytura is especially rich in ancient monuments, especially megalithic tombs but also cairns, standing stones, natural caves and souterrains, ringforts and cashels. A rich mythology and folklore is associated with the terrain and its monuments, especially lore relating to Fionn mac Cumhaill and the Fianna. A stone fort called Corrigeenacartha is identified as the site of the legendary forge of Loinn Mhic Liomhtha, the Enchanted Smith who forged weapons for the Fianna and who was the owner of an enchanted cow called Glas Gaibhneach, the ever-yielding Cow of Plenty that also features in the local folklore and Dindsenchas. Comparative sites elsewhere are discussed such as Mohernagartan, Co. Clare and the cave at Kesh Corran, Co. Sligo. The Enchanted Forge as a theme in the folklore of Gaelic Scotland is also referred to.

- by Eamonn P Kelly
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- Mythology And Folklore, Irish Studies, Archaeology, Folklore
- by Andy Halpin
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- Military History, Medieval History, Early Medieval Archaeology, Medieval Archaeology

Excavations at Cookstown were carried out in advance of the N2 Finglas-Ashbourne road scheme on behalf of Meath County Council. The site was located 1km west of Ashbourne town. The site was initially identified during a geophysical survey in 2002. Test excavations in 2003 confirmed the site’s archaeological significance. The excavation, directed by the author, was carried out by a team of between 24 and 51 archaeologists between 15 January and 31 May 2004. The 1.1 ha site, which was divided into four areas, contained material and features from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, early medieval, high medieval and modern periods. The majority of the features date from the medieval period and the site can be primarily characterised as a medieval settlement site. This report details the results of the excavation, including specialist analysis, artefact drawings and photographs, and interpretation.
The following volume, the first of three, containes Cookstown’s stratigraphic description and discussion. This volume details the site location and scope of archaeological works at Cookstown Site 25, the previous phases of archaeological works at the site and the geological and topographical characteristics of Cookstown, followed by a detailed survey of the known archaeology and history of Cookstown and its environs. The following sections describes in detail the archaeological stratigraphy excavated at Cookstown Site 25, for 1129 archaeological features and seven main phases of occupation. A detailed discussion of the results of the excavation and post excavation analysis follow before the conclusions are set out.

- by Luke McInerney
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- Irish Studies, Celtic Studies, Hagiography, Monastic Studies

Excavations at Cookstown were carried out in advance of the N2 Finglas-Ashbourne road scheme on behalf of Meath County Council. The site was located 1km west of Ashbourne town. The site was initially identified during a geophysical survey in 2002. Test excavations in 2003 confirmed the site’s archaeological significance. The excavation, directed by the author, was carried out by a team of between 24 and 51 archaeologists between 15 January and 31 May 2004. The 1.1 ha site, which was divided into four areas, contained material and features from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, early medieval, high medieval and modern periods. The majority of the features date from the medieval period and the site can be primarily characterised as a medieval settlement site. This report details the results of the excavation, including specialist analysis and interpretation.
Volume three contains the results of the specialist analysis, including the radiocarbon dates from Waikato University (Appendix 6), the prehistoric pottery by Helen Roche and Eoin Grogan (Appendix 7), medieval pottery by Clare McCutcheon (Appendix 8), the post-medieval pottery report by Rosanne Meenan (Appendix 9), including a catalogue of post medieval pottery by Gordana Baljkis; a lithics report by Dermot Moore (Appendix 10) and small finds reports for glass (Appendix 11), clay pipe (Appendix 12), metal objects (Appendix 13), bone and ivory (Appendix 14) by Milica Rajic. The single human burial discovered in Cookstown Site 25 is detailed in a report by Linda Fibiger (Appendix 15). Both Dr Emily Murray and Linda Fibiger analysed the burnt bone from the site (Appendix 16), whilst the results of the analysis of animal bone assemblage is detailed in a report by Dr Emily Murray (Appendix 17). The wood and charcoal identification are detailed in a report by Ellen O’Carroll (Appendix 18), and the plant-macro remains are detailed in a report by Susan Lyons (Appendix 19). The results of an examination and analysis of the industrial waste from the site, and specifically from the forge, are detailed in a report by Dr Effie Photos-Jones (Appendix 20).

- by Emily Murray
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- Early Medieval Archaeology (Ireland)

Early Monastic Landscape on Inisharc/Inis Airc, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland

- by Michael Gibbons and +2
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- Early Medieval Ireland, Irish History, Coastal and Island Archaeology, Monastic Studies (Irish)

The Meic Fhlannchadha were an important brehon family of the classical Gaelic tradition. As brehon lawyers, they held a privileged position in Gaelic society. Their learning and practice in matters of native law conferred respect and value to them as learned men and scholars. The Meic Fhlannchadha were distinguished in native law and judgements and they produced generations of “law ollamhs” who rendered professional services to Gaelic and Anglo-Irish lords from the fifteenth century. By the time of the collapse of the Gaelic system and its institutions of law in the seventeenth century, the Meic Fhlannchadha used their social position as a means of negotiating the transition toward Anglicization.

- by Luke McInerney
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- Early Medieval Ireland, Gaelic Ireland, Irish History, High Medieval Ireland

This is the paper of a talk I gave at the Institute of Irish Studies in the University of Liverpool many years ago, shortly after Atlantic Celts first came out. Because it remains an important teaching text, I thought it worth putting this up (I've just moved offices) although there's things here I no longer agree with such as lack of Norse loanwords into Irish - and Harolds Cross does not have an apostrophe!

- by catherine swift
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- Irish Studies, Celtic Studies, Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval Ireland

Much of the action of Táin Bó Cúailnge takes place on the borders of Ulster in what is now Co. Louth. This full-colour, six-page Heritage Guide re-traces the path taken by Queen Medb's forces through the county via maps, text and... more

Results of Excavations of Coastal Shell Middens near Ballyconneely in Co Galway

- by Cormac Bourke
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- Early Medieval Archaeology (Ireland)

This article details the series of field trips led by Luke McInerney over the last ten years to historical sites in Co. Clare. The article details the 2019 Field Trip to a number of sites in and around Ennis/Dromoland and it includes a... more

Nel contributo s'intende affrontare, attraverso l’analisi di alcune importanti iscrizioni, l’evoluzione di Albano nei travagliati secoli che videro l’affermazione del cristianesimo e lo sviluppo urbano negli antichi castra della Legio II Parthica. Le testimonianze epigrafiche consentono infatti, in concerto con altre fonti storiche, di individuare e comprendere le macrofasi che la città di Albano visse tra il VI e il XII secolo d.C.

- by Flavia Frauzel
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- Roman History, Early Medieval Archaeology, Greek Epigraphy, Latin Epic

The Christianisation of Ireland in the fifth century AD produced distinct monastic practices and architectural traditions. Recent research on Inishark Island in western Ire-land illuminates the diverse material manifestations of monasticism and contributes to the archaeological analysis of pilgrimage. Excavations revealed a ritual complex (AD 900-1100) developed as both an ascetic hermitage and a pilgrimage shrine. It is argued that monastic communities designed ritual infrastructure to promote ideologies of sacred hierarchy and affinity that legitimated their status and economic relations with lay worshippers. In a global context, this research emphasises how material and spatial settings of pilgrimage can accommodate and construct social distinctions through patterns of seclusion, exclusion and integration in ritual.

- by Ryan Lash and +2
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- Pilgrimage, Early Medieval Ireland, Monastic Archaeology, Archaeology of pilgrimage
- by Mark E Hall
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- Early Medieval Archaeology, Early Medieval Ireland, Archaeometry, Archaeometallurgy
- by Thomas Finan
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- Early Medieval Archaeology (Ireland)

Athlunkard A Re-Assessment of a Proposed Viking longfort in Fairyhill Td Co Clare

The article describes the history and replication of the 8th/9th century granite St Patrick's Cross on the Hill of Down, Downpatrick

This session addresses the methodological and theoretical challenges studying transitions in the Early Medieval period. From Late Antiquity through to the turn of the first millennium AD there are rapid socio-political and economic changes throughout Europe. Language, religion, trade, burial practice and urbanism are all in flux. This raises questions about the spread and rate of Christianisation, the changes in urban and rural life during this period, mobility across and between regions, access to resources and trade routes, and much more. We wish to bring to the fore different approaches to these questions of social versus material change and the archaeological record, particularly in terms of interdisciplinary and trans-national methodologies.

- by Sam Leggett and +2
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- Anglo-Saxon Studies, Interdisciplinarity, Archaeological Science, Old English Literature

McLaughlin et al. (2018) argue for similar trends in the medieval Irish historical record and the archaeological radiocarbon record. Part of their results are due to an ad-hoc bandwidth being used to calculate the kernel density estimates (KDEs). This contribution looks at using a data-driven bandwidth to recalculate the KDEs and look at the first derivative of the KDEs. The results here indicate the radiocarbon record declines much sooner than the early 9th century and not recovering again until the late eleventh century. Comments are also noted on the Irish annals and the approach evidenced in the archaeological literature, for at least one region, on the use of radiocarbon dates.

- by Kerri Cleary
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- Early Medieval Archaeology (Ireland)
- by Emily Murray and +1
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- Early Medieval Archaeology (Ireland)