EMAP_2012_Report_6_1.pdf (7.3 MB) - The Heritage Council

More documents

Recommendations

Info

perhaps adopted only by a minority (although further examination of distribution and chronology would be needed to assess this possibility), or may suggest that belts could have been fastened in other ways. Ornaments A broad range of ornaments is known from early medieval Ireland, not all of which come from excavated contexts or settlement sites. Personal ornaments are by their nature small, portable objects; as such it might be expected that they could be easily transported, traded or exchanged over distances. As noted above, only some of these items appear in the literary or pictorial sources; archaeological evidence provides significant additional information on the types and details, and potentially how they were used. However, it has also been noted that the artefactual evidence does not always support the literary descriptions, perhaps because of the use of specific conventions in the written texts; the precious metals in descriptions of brooches and pins in the Táin, for example, are in inverse proportion to those found in the artefactual evidence (Mallory 1986). The distribution of personal ornaments is fairly wide, with examples occurring in 216 of the 317 sites in the gazetteer. The absence of personal ornaments from almost one-third of the total sites surveyed might perhaps reflect the extent of the excavations, or the nature of the sites; ornaments were found at only seven of 22 souterrain sites, for example, while all of the cemetery/settlement sites surveyed had some personal ornaments. But all of the site types are represented among those producing ornaments (see Fig. 7.1 below). Fig. 7.1: Breakdown of the 216 sites with personal ornaments by site type The contexts of the personal ornaments vary across the sites; for the most part excavated examples on settlement sites are not directly in contexts which suggest their use – occurring in ditches or pits, or as unstratified finds. One notable exception is Deer Park Farms, where several of the ornaments (including a brooch and several beads) were found not only within the houses, but in some cases in the bedding areas, allowing them to be considered directly in connection with the inhabitants and their daily lives (Lynn & McDowell 2011, 333). The degree of preservation on this site allows such associations to be made, which may not be apparent in other excavations. Ornaments in burials are rare, but occasional examples may 108
suggest dressed burials, or allow associations to be made between specific items and people, in terms of gender, age or other aspects of identity. The range of ornaments found on different sites varies widely; many sites have just a single type, such as a pin or a bead, but others have multiple types and examples. Some 70 sites produced just a single ornament type (see Table 7.1), often represented by just a single item; the most common ornament type among these sites was the pin, followed by beads and bracelets. Ornament type Number of sites Site names Brooch 1 Kilree 3; Doonloughan Pin 36 Ardcloon; Ballinarry; Ballyarra; Ballykennedy; Ballynakelly; Ballyroney; Banduff; Baunoguephlure; Beal Boru; Beginish; Big Glebe; Boho; Boyerstown; Cahircalla More; Carnalbanagh East; Cavanapole; Clonmoney West; Cloonaboy; Craig Hill; Deerfin; Dromiskin; Farrandreg; Gortnahoon; Holywood; Kilcloghans; Killederdadrum; Killyglen; Knockadrina; Leacanabuaile; Lisdoo; Loughbown 1; Marlhill 2; Moyne; Rathmorrisy; Sallymount; Sluggary Buckle 1 Pollardstown Bead 16 Balgatheran; Ballyduff; Ballyshanaghill; Barrees Valley; Coarhabeg; Cross; Crossnacreevy; Dromthacker; Lisnagade 2; Lisnagun; Loher; Maynooth Castle; Rathbeg; Shane’s Castle; Sheephouse; Treanbaun Bracelet 12 Ballyrenan; Carnmore West; Carrigillihy; Cloongownagh; Coolcran; Dressogagh; Island MacHugh; Killarn; Killyliss; Langford Lodge; Oughtymore; Rinnaraw Other 2 Croom East (ring); Poulacapple (amber button) Table 7.1: sites producing just a single type of personal ornament At the other end of the scale, a number of sites have a broad range of ornament types (Table 7.2 below). This table, based on sites in the gazetteer, highlights a number of issues. First, while some sites have exceptional quantities of ornaments, the range of types present even in smaller numbers may be of interest. Given that so many sites produce just one type of personal ornament, the presence of four or more ornament types on these 29 sites is interesting. The distinction between sites with range but not overall quantity, and those with both, needs further attention. Issues which may complicate the distribution include the presence of some ornaments in burials – such as a torc in a male burial at Owenbristy (Lehane & Delaney 2010, 35), beads and other items in both child and adult female burials at Parknahown (O’Neill 2010, 256-7), and a blue glass bead in an infant burial at Raystown (Seaver 2010, 271). In addition, evidence for manufacturing at Dooey and Clogher (see below) may also confuse the issue as to whether items found on site were made and/or used there. Site Type Brooch Pins Beads Bracelets Buckles Other Ballinderry I, Crannog 2 28 1 5 3 Co. Westmeath Ballinderry II, Crannog 4+ 27 30 3 Co. Offaly Ballycatteen, Multivallate 1 3+ 3 1 Co. Cork Ballywee, Co. Antrim Non-circular Plural Plural Fragments 1 Baronstown, Non-circular 2 Plural 1 1 Co. Meath Cahercommaun, Co. Clare Cashel 3 98 17 52 4 2 pendants 1 ring Carraig Aille II, Cashel 2 89 29 37 2 rings Co. Limerick Castlefarm, Cemetery/ 2 81 6 8 4 rings Co. Meath settlement Castleskreen, Co. Down Univallate 1 1 2 1 109
Page 2 and 3:
The Early Medieval Archaeology Proj
Page 4 and 5:
Table of Contents Section 1: An Ove
Page 6 and 7:
value to excavation reports far bey
Page 8 and 9:
Fig. 1.2: Percentages of site types
Page 10 and 11:
Map 1.1: Map of site that produced
Page 12 and 13:
Map 1.3a: Map of site that produced
Page 14 and 15:
Page 16 and 17:
Page 18 and 19:
Page 20 and 21:
Page 22 and 23:
Page 24 and 25:
Map 1.11: Geological evidence for s
Page 26 and 27:
data from over 300 sites, and has p
Page 28 and 29:
2.2: Iron artefacts on Irish early
Page 30 and 31:
2012 gazetteer as well as at Randal
Page 32 and 33:
also been found within or close to
Page 34 and 35:
superstructure (ibid. 117). A few a
Page 36 and 37:
2.4.1: Smithing Secondary smithing
Page 38 and 39:
working furnace at Rathgurreen and
Page 40 and 41:
smithing and bloom smithing (827 kg
Page 42 and 43:
number of hearths as indicative of
Page 44 and 45:
univallate enclosures at Lisleagh 1
Page 46 and 47:
Chapter 3: Early Medieval Non-Ferro
Page 48 and 49:
Map 3.1: Map showing distribution o
Page 50 and 51:
little Irish work has been undertak
Page 52 and 53:
3.2.4: Motif-pieces Stone, antler,
Page 54 and 55:
supported by the evidence on most l
Page 56 and 57:
needle (ibid. 144-49). However, McE
Page 58 and 59:
ferrous metal-working relative to s
Page 60 and 61:
glass-working which might suggest t
Page 62 and 63: 93). One decorated millefiori rod a
Page 64 and 65: Map 5.1: Map of Ireland showing evi
Page 66 and 67: handles, some smoothed and undecora
Page 68 and 69: comb of Scottish origin at Castlefa
Page 70 and 71: Chapter 6: Early medieval stone-wor
Page 72 and 73: Grindstones are circular stones wit
Page 74 and 75: North and appear to have been disca
Page 76 and 77: APPENDIX 1 Site Site type Metalwork
Page 78 and 79: Site Site type Metalworking Residue
Page 84 and 85: Site Site type Metal-working Artefa
Page 86 and 87: Site Site type Metal-working featur
Page 88 and 89: Site Site type Evidence Reference A
Page 90 and 91: Site name Evidence Reference Athlum
Page 92 and 93: Armagh: Cathedral Hill, Co. Armagh
Page 94 and 95: Site name Evidence Reference Ballin
Page 96 and 97: Site name Evidence Reference Aghade
Page 98 and 99: Site name Evidence Reference Legget
Page 100 and 101: Co. Antrim Ballyhenry II, Co. Antri
Page 102 and 103: Co. Louth Donegore, Co. Antrim Doon
Page 104 and 105: Co. Monaghan Lisleitrim, Co. Armagh
Page 106 and 107: Townland/Site Name Site Type Commen
Page 108 and 109: young lords of territories; six in
Page 110 and 111: The only ornaments which appear in
Page 114 and 115: Clogher, Co. Tyrone Multivallate pl
Page 116 and 117: Fig 3.2: brooches by site types (40
Page 118 and 119: Cloghermore, Dalkey Island, Dooey,
Page 120 and 121: Of the 216 sites with personal orna
Page 122 and 123: Glass is the most common material f
Page 124 and 125: Chapter 8: Manufacturing on Rural S
Page 126 and 127: weft-beaters or other weaving-relat
Page 128 and 129: the preparatory stage occurred in t
Page 130 and 131: Carraig Aille II 33 18 stone, 15 bo
Page 132 and 133: possible Roestown, Co Meath Non-cir
Page 134 and 135: Fig. 8.3: Location of sites with ev
Page 136 and 137: matting. Rush seeds were found in t
Page 138 and 139: (Lennon 1994, 59), Rathgurreen (Com
Page 140 and 141: Cherrywood Other Pin slag Collierst
Page 142 and 143: Significant evidence for metal-work
Page 144 and 145: Kilkenny 1 1 Longford 1 1 Ulster 13
Page 146 and 147: Dooey Other Pins bone working evide
Page 148 and 149: APPENDIX 2 Site Site type Preparati
Page 150 and 151: Marshes Upper Non-circular Y Y Y Mi
Page 152 and 153: Bayley, D. 2003:1286. Newtownbalreg
Page 154 and 155: Brady, N. & Gibson, P. 2005. The Ea
Page 156 and 157: Chart, D.A. 1940. A Preliminary Sur
Page 158 and 159: - 1994. Atlantic fortifications: Th
Page 160 and 161: Delaney, S. 2003:1272. Carn More, F
Page 162 and 163:
Doyle, T. 2008. Hair of the dog. Se
Page 164 and 165:
- 2006b. Archaeological discoveries
Page 166 and 167:
social transformation c. A.D. 500-1
Page 168 and 169:
Papers from the Proceedings of the
Page 170 and 171:
- 2010. Viking elements in Irish to
Page 172 and 173:
- 1999. The Vikings in the Kingdom
Page 174 and 175:
Lennon, A. M. & Henry, M. 2000. Pre
Page 176 and 177:
McCarthy, A. 1986:29. Ballybunion,
Page 178 and 179:
Since the Roman Period. London & Sy
Page 180 and 181:
- 1988. Excavations at Lisleagh Rin
Page 182 and 183:
NAC leaflet. 2011. Steeple Road, An
Page 184 and 185:
Meath. Unpublished report prepared
Page 186 and 187:
- 1951-2a. St. Gobnet’s House, Ba
Page 188 and 189:
- 2005b. Medieval fish traps on the
Page 190 and 191:
- 1953. Preliminary report on Excav
Page 192 and 193:
- 1958. Two souterrains at Bawntaaf
Page 194 and 195:
- 2007. Clonfad 3: A unique glimpse
Page 196 and 197:
Historical Journal, 3, 165-86. Wadd
Page 198 and 199:
- 1971. A Marshland Habitation Site
Page 200 and 201:
Zajac, S. 2002:1382. Carrowkeel, Co
show all

EMAP_2012_Report_6_1.pdf (7.3 MB) - The Heritage Council

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?