Laurence Flanagan. 1998. Ancient Ireland: Life before the Celts. Palgrave-MacMillan, London. 233 pages, plus 16 pages of a glossary and bibliographic sources, and an index.
This lively survey of Irish archaeology contains a wealth of information concerning the prehistory of the green isle. Laurence Flanagan's book covers Ireland from the first human occupations, about 8000 years B.C., to the end of the Late Bronze Age, 700 BC; the Celts arrived in Ireland around 250 BC, and with them came historical records. Ancient Ireland concentrates on the pre-Celtic period, when what we know about the peoples and customs of the country come from archaeological evidence alone.
The introduction of the book is a brief discussion of what constitutes archaeological evidence, a general discussion of the types of artifacts found, and a bit about chronological methods. The remainder of the book is divided into two parts; an introduction to the material cultures (artifacts, buildings, burials) of prehistoric Irish peoples, and an introduction to what we know about the social, environmental, and cultural aspects.
The introduction of the book is a brief discussion of what constitutes archaeological evidence, a general discussion of the types of artifacts found, and a bit about chronological methods. The remainder of the book is divided into two parts; an introduction to the material cultures (artifacts, buildings, burials) of prehistoric Irish peoples, and an introduction to what we know about the social, environmental, and cultural aspects.
In Part I can be found a thorough discussion of ceramic styles, stone implements, burial structures, settlement patterns and iconography of the Mesolithic, Neolithic, and Bronze Age peoples. Part II is divided into Society (population and social complexity); Industry (housing, agriculture, masonry, water and land transport, and quarrying and mining of stone and metals); Manufacturing (stone tool technology, metal-working, wood-working); Food Industry (fishing and hunting, stock-rearing, agricultural, food preparation, cereals); Nutrition and Health; Domestic and Personal Life (personal dress, entertainment); Religion and the Arts (luxury items, music); Technology and Science (prospecting, surveying, measurement, astronomy, and education); and the Environment.
There's a nice-sized glossary at the end; but oddly enough, there isn't a summary chapter which might have led into a discussion of the Celtic invasion. Lots of black and white drawings and fourteen black and white plates are included with the text.
This is an excellent introductory text on the prehistory of Ireland, and it certainly left this reader with a broader understanding of Mesolithic through Bronze Age periods. But now, I want to know what happened when the Celts invaded!
This is an excellent introductory text on the prehistory of Ireland, and it certainly left this reader with a broader understanding of Mesolithic through Bronze Age periods. But now, I want to know what happened when the Celts invaded!
