Bronze Age Case Studies
The representative sites of the Bronze Age were examined.
These comprise free standing orthostat monuments: one standing stone at Letterdeen (see below), one stone
pair at Ballynew (see picture on right) and one stone alignment ( see above). The latter two sites occur close to one another
and are intervisible, hence they may be aligned or otherwise associated.
To summarise, during the Bronze Age settlement in the study area continued on from the Neolithic within the fertile valleys and near the sea. In addition, monuments such as standing stones, stone pairs and stone rows were erected close to lakes, suggesting a change in ritual practices. In Connemara these sites often comprise white quartz and were erected at a height, in order to be seen from a distance |
Letterdeen Standing Stone from East
Sheeauns Stone Alignment from N-W
|
Ballynew Stone Pair from S-W
The Irish Bronze Age
During the Bronze Age in Ireland some megalithic tombs, especially wedge tombs, were still utilised for ceremonial purposes. However, new methods of ritual practice were developed, which were influenced by the emergence of bronze metallurgy. The latter had a great impact on the social systems as well as the economy, radiating out into the ceremonial realm. Large circles (embanked enclosures), constructed of earth, timber or stone became important during the early Bronze Age (Waddell, 2010). Over a period of about 1000 years, standing stones, stone pairs, stone alignments (stone rows), as well as stone circles and boulder monuments emerge in addition as ritual monuments. Single burials become the norm during the period. Rock art also continued to be executed, however, the cup marks, dots and concentric rings seem to originate from Portugal and north-west Spain and are found on rock outcrops on hillsides. They have been interpreted as a form of reverence of the sun (Halpin & Newman, 2006). Stone circles are ceremonial monuments comprising a roughly circular centre defined by free standing orthostats placed apart or touching. This type of monument mainly occurs in Ulster and Munster. A stone alignment is an arrangement of three or more standing stones occurring in a line and mutually visible. Stone pairs are two free standing megaliths in close proximity to one another. Stone circles and alignments seem to have an association as well as similar ritual purposes. Stone rows are often oriented towards mountain tops. Boulder monuments are composed of a tall rock (c.1-2 m long) placed on top of three or more small horizontal level-topped stones. These monuments are clustered within West-Munster and sometimes occur within stone circles (Waddell, 2010). It has been suggested that deities and rituals changed in this era, due to environmental downturn, thus monuments erected at this time are different, such as standing stones, and appear in close proximity to lakes. It had has been proven, that a rapid increase in arable farming from c. 2000 BC took place, which might have been connected with the communal veneration of a sun-god (Vance, 2009). Emerging wetlands also become increasingly important during the era as votive offerings in form of gold and bronze artefacts as well as human sacrifice demonstrate. Furthermore, lake settlements are developed and trackways started (O’Sullivan, 2007). In addition, hillforts emerge from the Middle Bronze Age (c.1200 BC) onwards, possibly due to climatic and social shifts. Enclosed settlements, field systems and fulachta fiadh have also been discovered from the Bronze Age (O'Sullivan & Breen, 2007).
Bronze Age monuments occur in large numbers within the transect of Connemara and in close proximity to the Neolithic sites, hinting at a continuity of settlement in the same areas. In addition, some of these are clustered around lakes (Henry, 1992). The former sites comprise of standing stones, stone pairs, stone alignments, a boulder burial as well as long cists. The free standing megalith-sites are situated on dominant hilltops, eskers, as well as at the entry into glens. These stones were meant to be visible from long distances. A distinct characteristic of the monuments in this area is the recurrent usage of rocks of white quartz, which appear to have been specially selected. The sites in Connemara invariably show north-south alignment as well as a gradation in altitude (Gibbons & Higgins, 1988). The free standing orthostats of north-west Connemara comprise the third largest cluster of these monuments (Gosling, 1993). One stone pair at Crocknaraw, within the transect, was uncovered by turf cutting and further examination by archaeologists unearthed a Bronze Age cist burial (The Irish Times, 1995). |