Archeology Of Ireland

Ireland is known for its heritage and cultural diversity. We look at Ireland as a beautiful historical destination that has its own archeological aspects.

There have been a lot of archeological findings in this country which has grown its heritage at a deeper level.

Archeology is a term used to describe the study of human growth and activity through the reports and analysis of material culture, by the study of the past.

Here we are going to look through a few of the archeological finds in Ireland.

Clonycavan Man

This Iron Age bog body was found in March 2003 and was known to be murdered. This name was given to a well-preserved body that was found in Clonycavan, Ballivor, County Meath, Ireland. The body was found in a modern peat harvesting machine. Only the Man’s head and torso are preserved, the peat harvesting machine is believed to be responsible for severing his lower body.

Scientific study suggests that the man was fairly young at the time of his death. He must have been in his early twenties.

Linn Duachaill

We all understand the raid of Vikings that took place in Ireland. These Vikings were known to have settlements in Ireland. Linn Duachaill was one of those settlement villages. It was discovered in what is today Annagassan, County Louth. It is presumed to be a Viking winter base that is one of only two in Ireland. Though later it became a trading site; after some testing by Dundalk’s County Museum, it was brought to light that the site was where the Vikings repaired their longships and initiated the inland raids.

It is believed to have been founded in 841 AD which means that it was one of the earliest settlements of the Vikings.

4000-year-old necklace found

This Necklace is one of the many rare and precious items at the National Museum of Ireland. This 4000-year-old necklace and two discs were found in a dumpster, after two thieves robbed a shop in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, and threw these found items with the paperwork in the dumpster nearby. The necklace, called Lunala, is believed to have been worn by the early kings of Ireland.

It is thought to date from between 2,300 and 1,800 BC. It was first discovered in 1945 in Coggalbeg, Co Roscommon by a farmer Hubert Lannon, with which we came to know its history and its ancient past.

The necklace and the discs are known to be the most important archeological finds for many years.

Bog Butter

Though bog butter is a common find around Ireland, this was remarkable for its size – 100 pounds. The butter was presumably buried as a form of refrigeration. It was in 2011 when this substance was found, which was said to still have a dairy smell. It was dug up in Tullamore and was thought to be there for 5000 years. This substance, “butter”, was found 7 feet underground, in a “keg” or “urn” type capsule. Butter was found inside when it was cut open with a spade.

Sacrificed King

A body was accidentally discovered in a bog in Co. Laois. It is believed that it must be of a sacrificed Iron age, Irish King. There were various cuts on the body which can only mean that the man was killed in a ritual killing linked with kingship.  

The body was found on the boundary of two ancient Irish Kingdoms, which resulted in the belief that it must have been of a king. It is tested to be at least a 3000-year-old mummified body.

A field expert, Ned Kelly said, “All of the other bog bodies were found on significant boundaries. The idea is that because the goddess is the land, by inserting bodies and other items relating to their inauguration as king along the boundaries, it gives form to the goddess.”

Burial Ground in North Dublin

Tests were conducted on the burial site in north Dublin and resulted in it being built in the 7th century AD. This information deducts that the site is from the Pre-Viking era of Christian conversion.

Ancient Latin Psalter

An unearthed 1,200-year-old manuscript in Faddan More near Riverstown in Co Tipperary was found in 2006. It comprises 60 vellum pages and the covers were made from animal skin.

It was undisturbed and open to the Latin version of Psalm 83. This discovery was known to change the understanding of how old Irish manuscripts were made and was said to have an astonishing impact.


Related Read: 

https://www.insightguides.com/inspire-me/blog/top-10-ancient-sites-in-ireland
https://www.iai.ie/
https://www.archaeology.ie/archaeological-survey-ireland

 

Yukti Khera
Yukti Khera

A young writer with an open mind towards what life has to offer. She tends to display her views through her writing while also keeping into account different points of view of people. Her desire is to conquer world diversities as much as possible with the determination to let the voice of everyone be heard.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *