Early Medieval Ireland

Cremation

Most common burial rite in the Iron Age, but more are seen in the 6th-8th centuries

Inhumation

Burial rite becomes more common in the 5th and 6th centuries, thought to show a switch to Christianity, but can not be confirmed

Selective burial ground

Usually have a single burial in a generation

Kin group burial

Those who are related are buried in the same area. Increased number in 5th and 6th centuries due to a shift from individualism to group identitiy.

Community Burial Grounds

Least common type of burial grounds have individuals from multiple families

Ballymacaward

Burial ground spanning multiple centuries. Started with a Bronze Age cremation of a woman, held in 2 cists; the 5th and 6th centuries added 4 slab-lined cists; the 6th and 7th centuries added 9 unlined graves and a beef offering

Ardsallagh

Earliest burial of an unknown sex

Oenach Carmen

Most important assembly site in Lenster, also included many burial sites and other royal landscapes(Polyfocal Landscape)

Caputs

Royal residence, kings would have more than one as they would move around

Lagore

Caput in Meath, place of ritual before it was a settlement.

Late prehistoric- selective deposition of human remains

Early medieval - occipitals cut off, most likely judicial killings

Also likely a place of ceremony due to all of the cattle skulls

Becomes royal residence in 7th century

Cerinomial Centers

Best known are Dún Ailinne, Rathcroghan, Emain Macha, Tara, Cashel

Tara

Late Iron Age phase multivallation, at the center of a Neolithic Ditched Pit Circle, rectilinear shrine

TECH MIDCHÚART

The ‘banquet hall’, early medieval ceremonial inauguration avenue with gaps to look out onto views of ancient monuments

Raith Na Rig

Iron Age enclosure in Tara surrounding a figure eight (The Forrad and Tea Mur)

Cashel

rock fortress that funtioned as both a royal residence and a inaugeration site becoming the capital of Uí Meic Láire after the 6th-century expansion.

Raths

Enclosed feature of the Earth, ex. rath of Synods, Garrenes

Cashels

Stone versions of raths

Crannogs

Man-made mounds are usually built in a shallow lake. 1200 known, with a large size range. Some are enclosed, but others aren’t, for ritual purposes. ex Drumclay, Lagore

Promontory Forts

Settlement with likely military/defensive structures, possibly a stop on royal circuits. ex Dunbeg, Dunseverick

Diffusion from Britain

Theory that Christianity led to a rise in individualism and incentivised entrepreneurship and new settlements

Plague and Instability

Theory the Justinian plague and political instability pushed the elites to live separately for security and later as a status symbol. This is crituqued due to the low defense in early raths

Protection of Cows

Theory that individualized settlements developed in order to protect cattle as they became a form of currency and a way to make money. Supported by the lack of human occupation in some raths

Social role of Enclosures

enclosures represent a shift from tribe to family, seperation of family from the wider kin group, marked and contributed to social change as new ways of doing things are discovered

Houses

Represented by annular gullies, stokeholes and sometimes a close set circle. Walls are usually double linned for insulation. ex Deerpark farms

Foundational Deposits

Marks the birth of a structure ex the horse teeth and human skull within a wall slot in Newtown

Abandonment Deposit

What is left behind when a settlement is left. ex Oak trough in Deerpark Farm

Special Deposit

Other objects found at a site, could possibly be used for ritual activities

Iron Age Lull

Decrease in human activity begining in 200BC as is seen through pollen analysis