I recently spotted what appeared to be remarkably modern looking haircuts in Albrecht Druer’s woodcut of 1521 AD[i]. This image shows a group of Irish soldiers[ii], most likely mercenaries, who were fighting on the European continent during the early 1520s. I soon discovered that, far from being unusual, this distinctive hairstyle was actually very popular […]
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Viking Ireland, a fantastic series of videos by the National Museum of Ireland
The Vikings in Ireland is a fantastic series of videos, which have been produced by the National Museum of Ireland to celebrate the 1000 year anniversary of the Battle of Clontarf. You can view the videos below. . 1. Dr Andy Halpin, Assistant Keeper at the National Museum of Ireland, discusses three newly discovered Viking battle axes […]
A rare 16th century bridge at Tintern, Wexford
This rare, surviving, example of a 16th century bridge is found at Tintern in Co. Wexford. Located over a small, tidal river, the bridge is situated just a short distance from the impressive ruins of Tintern Abbey, which was founded in the 13th century. It has three plank-centred arches[i] and is a defended by a crenellated […]
The Comerford Crown, a Bronze Age gold ‘hat’ from Tipperary
The Comerford Crown is striking gold artefact, whose origins probably lie in the Late Bronze Age. It was discovered in 1692 in a peat bog at Bearna Eile (The Devil’s Bit), Co. Tipperary. As the picture above shows, it was profusely decorated, in what was most likely repousse ornamentation. An extraordinary object, the crown must have created a […]
Five Ancient Musical Instruments from Ireland
Ireland has rich musical heritage and as these instruments illustrate, it dates back many thousands of years. In 2003 a remarkable artefact was recovered during an archaeological excavation carried out by Bernice Molly at Greystones, Co. Wicklow. It consists of six carefully worked wooden pipes, which represent the world’s oldest surviving wooden musical instrument. […]
Some Fantastic 19th century Photos of Irish Archaeology Sites
This fantastic collection of photos, which are taken from the archives of Victoria & Albert Museum, show a number of Irish archaeological sites as they appeared at the end of the 19th century/start of the 20th century. The majority of images were taken by Robert Welch who was a noted Belfast based photographer. […]
Dunbeg Fort, Dingle, Co. Kerry, in photos
Located on a rocky promontory, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Dunbeg fort lies on the far western tip of the Dingle peninsula in Co. Kerry. This rather precarious position, although highly defensible, also leaves the fort susceptible to coastal erosion and a recent storm has caused considerable damage to the site. Unfortunately a section of the fort’s […]
The Helgo Treasure: A Viking Age Buddha
A remarkable collection of religious items sourced from diverse lands was discovered during archaeological excavations on the Swedish island of Helgo. Located in Lake Malaren, to the west of Stockholm, this small island was an important Viking trading and manufacturing centre (6th-11th centuries AD). It has produced an enormous collection of artefacts, including numerous exotic finds […]
16th century images of Irish people
A collection of images depicting 16th century Irish people. Although the majority of figures illustrated are soldiers and warriors, there are also some fine pictures of women, especially by the Flemish artist, Lucas d’Heere. ‘Irish as they stand accoutred being at the service of the late King Henry’, by Lucas d’Heere, circa 1575. Born in Ghent, […]
The Lismore Drinking-Horn Mount
This unusual and fantastical beast was discovered in Lismore, Co. Waterford during the 19th century. Fashioned out of bronze, it originally adorned the pointed end of a great drinking-horn. It probably dates from the 7th or 8th centuries AD and appears to depict a stylised bird. The mount measures approximately 9 cm in length and […]
Some Irish words with Norse Origins
The year 795 AD saw a new force arrive on the Irish political scene, the Vikings. These seaborne warriors were to have a significant impact on Irish life. Their attacks on religious centres and propensity for warfare are well documented, as is their contribution to the development of urban centres and new trade routes. However, something which […]
The Irish Rebel and the Ancient Sword
After the Battle of New Ross in 1798 an ancient blade was prised from the hands of a dead rebel fighter. The unnamed warrior had gone to war not with an iron pike like so many of his compatriots, but something much older. He died clasping a weapon not seen on a battlefield for over […]
A Satirical Chamberpot from 18th century Dublin
In the late 18th century an English writer, Richard Twiss caused consternation in Ireland when his book, ‘A Tour in Ireland in 1775‘, was published. It painted the country and its inhabitants in a very poor light and was widely condemned by the Irish public. However, every cloud has a silver lining and an enterprising […]
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Sharing Ireland’s amazing archaeology as well as interesting sites from around the world. A blog by Wexford archaeologist Colm Moriarty. Contact: colm@irisharchaeologyshop.com
