EMAP_2012_Report_6_1.pdf (7.3 MB) - The Heritage Council

Chapter 3: Early Medieval Non-Ferrous Metal-Working
3.1: Introduction
The evidence for non-ferrous metal-working has recently been reviewed by Craddock (1990)
and Comber (2004; 2008, 133-49) and an earlier review of metal-working from monasteries
was produced by Ryan (1988). The non-ferrous metals in early medieval Ireland comprised
copper-alloy, lead, tin, silver and gold and were almost exclusively used in the production of
luxury items. In the early medieval period, copper-alloy was usually in the form of either
bronze or gunmetal which was an alloy of copper and tin with lead added to improve its
casting qualities (Edwards 1990, 90). Some of the best known early medieval non-ferrous
metal objects consisted of copper-alloy pins, brooches, latchets, buckles, strap-ends, rings
and studs (Doyle infra, Section 3) as well as bowls, wooden buckets or relics covered in
copper-alloy sheets. The ninth-century witnessed the beginning of a decline in the Irish finemetal-working
as non-ferrous metal objects became coarser and plainer with amber replacing
the use of millefiori and enamel and both filigree and kerbschnitt disappearing (Comber 2008,
134-35). Dublin’s, and indeed Ireland’s, first and only definite pre-Norman mint, was
established in A.D. 997. These silver pennies were based on the English Æthelraed series and
found their way all over Europe between A.D. 997 and about A.D. 1040. After this period, the
Dublin silver pennies declined in weight and legibility suggesting a more localised distribution
(Wallace 2004, 837-9).
Excavations during the recent economic boom as well as consideration of older sites have
revealed the extent of evidence for non-ferrous metal-working on Irish early medieval
settlements. Non-ferrous artefacts were found at 159/317 sites within the EMAP 2012
gazetteer which did not include ecclesiastical or urban sites (Map 3.1). A total of 62/317 sites
were identified as containing direct evidence for non-ferrous metal working (Appendix 1.2).
Ten of these settlements had no evidence for ferrous metal-working while the remainder had
varying amounts of evidence for this craft as well. Comber had originally identified 37
settlement sites and 8 ecclesiastical sites with evidence for non-ferrous metal working
(Comber 2008, 149). In comparison to ironworking relatively few of the sites have had
specialist input from an archaeometallurgist. Experimental work has significant potential to
add to our understanding and while much of the Irish literature has been concerned with
Bronze Age metallurgy (Ó Faoláin 2004). There have been a number of Irish attempts to
create copper alloy early medieval objects (http://www.umha-aois.com/ua-site/2010-kdennett.htm).
Archaeological evidence for non-ferrous metal-working comes in the form of
rare indications of extraction and smelting, processed materials like ingots, artefacts such as
crucibles and moulds and rare residues such as slag.
Metallographic analysis of non-ferrous objects has occasionally been undertaken in Ireland.
Scientific analysis of silver from ingots, arm rings and other objects in Ireland and hoards
from Wales, England and Scotland was undertaken (Kruse and Tate 1992, 295-328). This
indicated some similarities in chemical composition between hoards in Ireland and other
regions and advocated the potential of examining lead isotopes to provenance the source of
the silver. While this technique has had huge success in examining the significance of the
Ross Island copper mine in Bronze Age metal-working (O’ Brien 2004) its potential to identify
origins for early medieval metal sources in Ireland is yet to be achieved. Other objects have
been investigated because of their unusual character. An as yet unpublished scientific
examination of a copper alloy neck ring found with a burial at Ratoath, County Meath was
undertaken to assess its origin (Wallace 2010, 306). Given the distinct nature of the burial
and the object this sought to assess the external influences on the site. Larger scale studies
of these types or routine analysis of a sample of objects from excavated sites have been seen
as a very useful future direction for understanding non-ferrous metallurgy as well as aspects
of economy and society (Bayley et al. 2008, 14-15).
42