|
INTRODUCTION
To
many people, archaeology (and indeed mythology) is inextricably
linked to images of Newgrange and similar sites, the most prominent
survivors of Ireland's stone age period. As such, there is some
popular awareness of the period in general terms - many people will
have visited Newgrange or Maeve's Cairn in Sligo, or have seen,
perhaps in passing, chambered cairns on hillsides or in fields.
Though this awareness is good in many ways, it can also be problematic.
It can at times be too easy to forget that the cairn builders must
have lived somewhere, have farmed, fished and hunted, have made
tools, had hopes, wishes, fears and beliefs.
The
passage of the millenia inevitably destroy much of what they have
left behind. Not just their wood-work, leather-work, and the materials
used to build their homes and fences are long gone. We can be sure
that most of their stone constructions and tools are also forever
lost. What we do have are little more than chance survivors. Periods
of such antiquity raise special challenges for the archaeologist,
and the techniques employed today to open up secrets many thousands
of years hidden often display remarkable ingenuity. Foremost among
these must be placed the several ways technology can be used to
reveal what the earth hides. Scanning techniques such as ground-penetrating
radar have allowed archaeologists see discrepancies in the composition
of the soil itself, its relative tendency to retain moisture, buried
stone groupings and more. The speed with which they can be employed,
when compared to the gruelling process of excavation, allows for
large areas to be examined without fear of damaging the sites themselves.
Note
should also be made of the effect of legislation combined with the
recent surge in roadbuilding and construction which has swept across
Ireland. The obligation on construction companies to include archaeological
survey and excavation in advance of building work has revealed many
new sites, some of them quite extensive. There is no doubt that
our understanding of the past, and especially of the more ancient
periods, has been greatly enhanced by these initiatives.
But
what of the stone age people themselves? We can only guess at their
beliefs, language, social structures and so on as they have left
us little to go on, and no written records. This does not mean we
cannot make informed analysis, however. It is here that the excavator,
surveyor and archivist make room for the application of theoretical
archaeology. The value of such work can be seen in the many papers
and books which have concentrated on this aspect of the archaeologist's
task. Notably, in Ireland, we have for example recently seen the
publication of Cooney and Grogan's 'Irish Prehistory, A Social
Perspective'. Part of the enduring attraction of Ireland's stone
age heritage, perhaps, is the very possibility of informed speculation
it offers to us all, professional and amateur alike.
THE
'STONE AGE IRELAND' DISCUSSION GROUP
The
'Stone Age Ireland' discussion group was founded in October
2000 and, despite fear it would be swamped by wishful flights of
fancy of New Age origin, has proved itself as a the very opposite:
a refuge for those interested in studying Ireland's Mesolithic and
Neolithic heritage from an overtly archaeological as opposed to
spiritual perspective. Current membership stands at almost 100.
To
join the discussion group, simply click the link below to create
an auto-addressed email, and press 'Send'. You will shortly receive
via email a confirmation request to which you must reply. Within
minutes your membership will be logged and you can begin interacting
with other group members online. New members are encouraged to send
an initial message to the group introducing themselves, and mentioning
their areas of interest in Ireland's stone age period.
Members
and non-members alike can freely access the group's archives. These
help give a feel for the type of topics discussed for those considering
subscribing, and help new members catch up on past debates. To view
or search the archives, just click on the link below.
RELATED
DISCUSSION GROUP HOMEPAGES
- Irish
Archaeology: the archaeology of Ireland of all
periods
- Bronze
Age Ireland: Discussion of the archaeology of the
bronze age period in Ireland (c.2300 - 500BC)
- Iron
Age Ireland:
the archaeology of the iron age period in Ireland (c.500BC - 400AD)
- Settlement
Studies:
the archaeology, geography and history of settlement in Ireland
of all periods
LINKS
DOCUMENTS
& DATABASES
Page
last updated 18 September 2001
|