Archaeol Ir 3

Outlines the Meso to Plantation period archaeology of the county, whose sites and monuments record contains over 1700 sites.

The reliquary dates to 1120s/30s; its lost central mounting is conjecturally reconstructed with reference to St Manchan's shrine and the Bamberg casket.

Records an interview with Dr Pat Wallace, recently appointed to the Directorship of the National Museum of Ireland.

General introduction.

The tower erected in 1857 sits within a ringwork of 1169 (recently excavated by au).

From Neo to 17th century there are 1600 sites noted, to which are added 1600 industrial complexes. Ballynagilly is the best-known Neo site, and all four Irish megalithic tomb types are represented. BA cists far outnumber mounds; Beaghmore and other circles are known, and BA objects include the Castlederg cauldron. There are 800 raths and many early church sites; the Early Christian period saw a move to the lower claylands. Med influence was not strong but later there are Plantations and artillery forts.

Discussion of the evidence for sequential application of ornament at Newgrange and Knowth passage graves, with identification of a standard or depictive style and a special or plastic style which came afterwards and reached its extreme on Orthostat 41 at Knowth West, with its extensive picking. The meaning of this artistic revolution is being sought.

The small Irish rural house has been too much neglected though it can tell us much, even about continuity of building traditions from prehistoric times (eg the use of thatch, clay, wooden pegs, and wattling). Officially, such houses tend to fall through the net because of their ambiguous nature -archaeology, conventional architecture, or town planning material? Destruction is now happening so fast that Ireland may soon have the lowest survival rate in all Europe. Tourists do not wish to see a 'pebble-dashed nightmare, from Donegal to Dalkey', nor state-aided replicas. Detailed survey and census is needed and a sensible level of conservation should be encouraged. A preservation body called Ceann Tui has been formed to raise awareness.

Brief survey of monuments in a mountainous county of SE Ireland which has been systematically researched over many years, with 1466 areas of archaeological interest now known. There is one Meso cave, numerous megalithic tombs (some with art), eight stone circles, LBA weaponry (especially from the Rathgall hillfort's workshop), several hillforts, many Early Christian sites (of which Glendalough is the most famous), at least 140 ringforts, Norse material, Norman castles and town foundations, Pale defences, and industrial archaeology especially at Avoca's copper mine.