Chapter 2 - Ancient Ireland

Question 1

When did the first settlers settle in Ireland?

Answer 1

The middle Stone Age, around 7000 BC

Question 2

What is the oldest sign of settlement so far discovered in Ireland?
What has been found there?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Where is it likely the first Irish settlers came from, and how did they most likely get here?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Describe the type of house the first settlers would have lived in

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Describe the tools used by the first settlers

Answer 5

Made from small stones and pieces of flint called microlits (sharp stones set into pieces of wood to makes axes, spears and arrows

Question 6

Describe the clothes worn by the first settlers

Answer 6

Clothes were made from animal skins

Flat stones called scrapers were used to clean the skin, + skins were then stitched together with bone needles

Question 7

What did the first settlers eat?

Answer 7

They were hunter-gatherers, so ate birds/wild boar/fish/berries/nuts
They changed their camp regularly in search of new food supplies

Question 8

What was different about the Neolithic farmers compared to the first settlers?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What evidence was gathered at the céide fields?

Answer 9

That Neolithic farmers divided land into separate fields, surrounded by stone walls

Question 10

Describe the tools used by Neolithic farmers

Answer 10

Tools were made from polished stone, which is stronger and sharper

Question 11

How did Neolithic farmers use tools for farming?

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

Describe the clothes worn by Neolithic farmers

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Describe the houses lived in by Neolithic people

Answer 13

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

Question 14

How was death marked by Neolithic farms?

Answer 14

Building large stone to,bs called megaliths

Question 15

What were the three main types of tombs used by Neolithic people?

Answer 15

1. Dolmen
2. Court Cairn
3. Passage Grave

Question 16

Describe a dolmen

Answer 16

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)

Question 17

Describe a court cairn

Answer 17

Get name from small entrance area, or court, at entrance to burial chamber
Chamber built from standing stones covered by earth

Question 18

Describe a passage grave

Answer 18

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)

Question 19

When/how did bronze improve the lives of farmers?

Answer 19

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

Question 20

What else began to be made in Ireland during he Bronze Age?

Answer 20

Gold objects, e.g. lunulae (name comes from half-moon shape, necklaces)

Question 21

What were the two main types of burial in the Bronze Age?

Answer 21

1. Cist graves

2. Wedge tombs

Question 22

Describe a cist grave

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Describe a wedge tomb

Answer 23

Built above the ground
Made from stone slabs
Low + narrow at back, higher + wider at front
Slabs then covered in earth

Question 24

What may stone circles have been for?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

What was a Fulachta fiadh?

Answer 25

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