While the earliest dwellings of the inhabitants of Ireland thousands of years ago were probably constructed from organic materials – earth, sticks and furze – stone began to play a part in architectural construction in Christian times. Drombeg in West Cork (above) is much visited at the winter solstice, when the path of the setting sun falls over the recumbent stone when observed through the two portal stones at the east side of the circle. Bronze Age stone circles have always fascinated, and at least we know that they have orientations which must have been significant. …As do all the other stone monuments which celebrate their makers – although perhaps they remain enigmatic to us today. They certainly make mighty marks on the landscape… Perhaps it’s to do with status, either of the builders or of the chiefs or priests who might have been buried in them. The portal tombs demonstrate the use of stone in its rawest and most spectacular state: they are examples of Ireland’s earliest architecture, and we don’t really know what they were for. Finola is in the picture to give the scale. It’s known as Brownshill Dolmen, and is in County Carlow. Here’s another portal tomb – the largest in Europe – which I discussed in this post from last year. There is folklore attached to this monument: it is known locally as the Giant’s Load, having been carried to Ireland by a Scottish giant named Parrah Boug McShagean, who is said to be buried in the tomb or nearby. It’s probably a more visually impressive structure today – in its ‘naked’ state – than it was when completed, as it is likely to have been covered over with a mound of earth and / or stones. It’s a portal tomb over 3 metres high, and the supporting stones are around 2 metres high: the capstone is estimated to weigh 35 tons. Proleek Dolmen in County Louth (above) is an example of the early use of stone to create a structure which made a huge impact on the landscape. It’s the most basic of creative materials, as relevant today in construction and art as it was to our Neolithic ancestors. Our attendance at the Symposium set me thinking about the whole subject of stone. It’s great that the event is thriving and attracting interest and participants from far and wide. Have a look at this post on the inaugural Stone Symposium from 2017. In the picture above (courtesy of agriland.ie) from left to right are Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan agri-technology company Devenish’s lead archaeologist Dr Cliodhna Ni Lionain Devenish’s executive chairman Owen Brennan and Professor Alice Stanton.Īs you know, we are Rock Art addicts, so this week went along to this year’s Stone Symposium in Durrus, West Cork, to hear Cliodhna, above, give a fascinating illustrated talk on the finds at Dowth. These carvings are likely to date from around 5,500 years ago. One of the many archaeological excitements in Ireland last summer was the discovery of a hitherto unknown passage grave with significant carvings beside Dowth Hall in the Bru na Boinne area of County Meath.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |