Iron Age Ireland

Quernstones – Beehive quern

Distribution
Finding an Invisible People
http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/iron_age_ireland_project_16365_pilotweb.pdf

Iron Age Research Project
Recent large–scale development activity is bringing new Iron Age sites to light at an increasing rate and presents us with an opportunity to resolve some of the key issues of this enigmatic period. Much of the relevant information resides in the considerable body of unpublished literature such as excavation reports.

The aim of the project is to collate, synthesise and analyse this evidence and to examine it in the context of the major thematic framework identified in the recent Heritage Council report on Research Needs in Irish Archaeology. Hence, in the later stages of the project issues of regionality, social and regional identity, economic organisation, landscape use and cultural change from the Bronze Age through to the Early Medieval period will be addressed.

A survey of archaeological consultancies, consultation of the NRA database of sites which is currently under development and a survey of the Excavations Bulletin 1970–2004 and the published literature. All excavated structures or features that have produced radiocarbon or dendrochronological dates between 900 cal. BC and AD cal. 400 or artefactual evidence for an Iron Age date will be recorded. These sites will be categorised by morphology and associated evidence for their function and entered into a searchable database. Based on this assessment a preliminary cultural characterisation will be developed.
Parameters of sites included in the study
Excavated sites which can be securely dated (radiocarbon, dendro, artefacts) to the Iron Age (ie. 700BC to AD400)

Aim is to characterise Iron Age sites – not end up with a distribution map of Iron Age activity of any form

Late Bronze Age sites (ca 900 BC onwards)

The catalogue also includes excavated sites that are possibly of Iron Age date, as for example identified by problematic associations of artefacts or stratigraphy


Chronology
1.Late Bronze Age (end)
900-700 BC
2. Plateau/Early Iron Age
700-400 BC
3. Developed Iron Age
400BC-0BC/AD
4. Late Iron Age
0BC/AD – AD 400


BiasesData gathering ie. which companies have responded (strong NRA bias through database and contractors)Recognisability - dating strategies (how many dates are obtained, ind features vs structures, favouring of metalworking etc.
BiasesData gathering ie. which companies have responded (strong NRA bias through database and contractors)Recognisability - dating strategies (how many dates are obtained, ind features vs structures, favouring of metalworking etc.
Multiperiod sites
Multiperiod sites
Multiperiod sites



Structures

Finds and activities
Ironworking
Bronzes, wood, glass, flint and antler artefacts
(cf pottery!)

Finds and activities
Ironworking
Bronzes, wood, glass, flint and antler artefacts
(cf pottery!)

Regionality
Site types IA
Settlement
Structures
Metalworking
Later IA with finds Burials
Burial in Ireland
Limited amount of information – burials without gravegoods or monuments not recognisable

Cremation in ring-barrows, ring-ditches and various other forms of monuments

Later centuries BC and early centuries AD


Carbury Hill, Site B, Co. Kildare
Grannagh, Co. Galway
Carowjames, Co.Mayo
Ballydavis, Co. Laois

cremation in bronze boxfibula (Nauheim type), wire, 80 beads, stone and blue, green and yellow glass beadsiron blade, nails, bronze bracelet fragment, mulitphased, layers containing artefacts, charcoal and cremated bones change with sterile layer> repeated activity




Ballybronoge,
Co. Limerick
Depth of 0.5m14 token cremations in ditch fillbone plaquebronze spiral ring
Carn More, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Ballykeel South, Co. Clare
Dooey, Co. Donegal
phase 4
70 extended inhumations, EW
no burial goods
early c. AD

Carrowbeg North, Co. Galway
MBA barrow
4 secondary inhumations in silted ditch
Female skeleton with locket and bead anklet
Kiltierney, Co.Fermanagh
Knowth, Co.Meath


Sense of ancestry
Remember Tara and other royal sites
> Lough Crew, Co. Meath

Tara: Neolithic to Iron Age
Rath, Co.Meath
Lough Crew, Co.Meath, Cairn T
Turoe, Co.
Kilcluggin, Galway
Derrykeighan, Co. Antrim


Panels,ears/domed trumpet
100BC-100AD?Double curved lines linking circle motifs, ears
Broighter and Turoe: domed trumpets, peltate patterns, voids
Castlestrange, Co. Roscommon
Tara, Lia Fáil
Brittany
Kermaria
Stelae in Brittany

Raffin, Co. Meath
excarnation?
scattered cremations?
only part of society received formal burial
Lambay Island
Shield, sword and ornaments, iron disc


Beaded torc, northern England
Roman fibulaebracelets
Lambay Island?
Tacitus, Agricola
Quinto expeditionum anno nave prima transgressus ignotas ad id tempus gentis crebris simul ac prosperis proeliis domuit; eamque partem Britanniae quae Hiberniam aspicit copiis instruxit, in spem magis quam ob formidinem, si quidem Hibernia medio inter Britanniam atque Hispaniam sita et Gallico quoque mari opportuna valentissimam imperii partem magnis in vicem usibus miscuerit.
Still invisible?