Chapter 2 - Ancient Ireland Flashcards
When did the first settlers settle in Ireland?
The middle Stone Age, around 7000 BC
What is the oldest sign of settlement so far discovered in Ireland?
What has been found there?
Mount Sandel, Derry (banks of river Bann)
In 1972, archaeologists discovered the foundations of round huts built with upright posts (post-holes)
Small piece of flint + the bones of birds + fish were also discovered beside a hearth
Carbon dating of hazelnuts shows lived here around 7000 BC
Where is it likely the first Irish settlers came from, and how did they most likely get here?
Scotland/Wales, as the north-eastern coast of Ireland can be seen from there
Dugout canoes/small tub-like boats made from animal skins held together by a light wooden frame
Describe the type of house the first settlers would have lived in
Circular hut built from saplings (could be easily bent into shape)
Frame was then covered in animal skins/rushes
There was a hearth in the middle of the huts
Small heaps of kitchen waste called maddens have been found next to the site of the huts
Describe the tools used by the first settlers
Made from small stones and pieces of flint called microlits (sharp stones set into pieces of wood to makes axes, spears and arrows
Describe the clothes worn by the first settlers
Clothes were made from animal skins
Flat stones called scrapers were used to clean the skin, + skins were then stitched together with bone needles
What did the first settlers eat?
They were hunter-gatherers, so ate birds/wild boar/fish/berries/nuts
They changed their camp regularly in search of new food supplies
What was different about the Neolithic farmers compared to the first settlers?
Other grew crops and kept animals rather than depending on hunter-gathering
Also led a more settled life, didn’t move from place to place
What evidence was gathered at the céide fields?
That Neolithic farmers divided land into separate fields, surrounded by stone walls
Describe the tools used by Neolithic farmers
Tools were made from polished stone, which is stronger and sharper
How did Neolithic farmers use tools for farming?
They cut down trees with stone axes, then removed them and used mattock or wooden ploughs to turn the soil to prepare it for crops/grazing
They grew wheat and barley (placed small amount in hollow in large stone and used smaller stone (quern stone) to grind it)
Describe the clothes worn by Neolithic farmers
They made clothes from animal skin and sheep’s wool
The art of spinning and weaving developed
Dyes made from plants were used to add colour to the wool
Describe the houses lived in by Neolithic people
Settled, so built stronger + longer-lasting houses than earlier settlers
Farms usually situated on higher ground (soil was easier to plough)
Houses were made from wood/stone/a mixture of both (depending on available materials)
Houses were usually rectangular + much larger than those of earlier settlers
Built by placing thick posts in ground + weaving branches in between them (wattle)
Daub (mud + straw) then plastered on wattle to keep out wind + rain
Roof was made from straw/rushes
Cooking done around fireplace in middle of floor inside house
Small hole in roof acted as chimney
Food stored in clay pots
How was death marked by Neolithic farms?
Building large stone to,bs called megaliths
What were the three main types of tombs used by Neolithic people?
- Dolmen
- Court Cairn
- Passage Grave
Describe a dolmen
Three standing stones on which capstone was placed
Stones likely brought to burial site by placing them on logs + rolling them
Body/burnt remains then placed under dolmen
Grave goods (food, pottery, jewellery) often placed alongside body
Mound of earth then covered dolmen (has disappeared today due to erosion)
Describe a court cairn
Get name from small entrance area, or court, at entrance to burial chamber
Chamber built from standing stones covered by earth
Describe a passage grave
Gets name from long passageway leading from entrance to burial chamber e.g. Newgrange Built around 5000 years ago (500 before pyramids) Corbelled roof (each slightly sticking out from one below) Had understanding of astronomy (light box allows light to travel up through passageway only at dawn on December 21) Suggests they may have worshipped sun/also may have been Calender of sorts, halfway through winter)
When/how did bronze improve the lives of farmers?
2000 BC
Could be beaten into various shapes or melted/poured into clay mounds to produce stronger weapons/tools/household goods)
Sickle (used to cut crops/grass) also became common
What else began to be made in Ireland during he Bronze Age?
Gold objects, e.g. lunulae (name comes from half-moon shape, necklaces)
What were the two main types of burial in the Bronze Age?
- Cist graves
2. Wedge tombs
Describe a cist grave
Shallow put lined with stone slabs and covered by a large flat stone
Bodies often placed in crouched position
Other times body was burnt and remains of burnt bones placed in large pot in grave
Small decorated pits containing food usually placed alongside remains
Describe a wedge tomb
Built above the ground
Made from stone slabs
Low + narrow at back, higher + wider at front
Slabs then covered in earth
What may stone circles have been for?
May have been used as a place of worship
However, most are aligned in some way to the sun, suggesting they could have been a type of calendar for Bronze Age farmers
What was a Fulachta fiadh?
Hole dug in damp ground, lined with flat stones/piece of wood
Poured water into hole, brought it to boil by placing large stones which had been heated in nearby fire into water-filled trough
Could keep water at simmering point by adding stones at regular intervals
Removed stones from fire by gripping with two wooden sticks
