Emania 9

A synthesis of linguistic, archaeological and early literary evidence is used to back up the hypothesis that the Goidelic language and tradition have survived in Ireland since the later Bronze Age. The emergence of a sword-bearing aristocracy during this period is identified with the formation of a Proto-Celtic British Isles and Armorica under Hallstatt A-C central European inspiration. The ensuing `Dark Age' of the Irish Bronze to Iron Age transition (c 600-c 200 BC) and continued marginal status of the Irish La Tène phenomenon (c 200-c 100 BC) is seen as the context of the separation of a conservative Primitive Irish from its innovative Gallo-Brittonic neighbours. However, there are traces of `deflected continuity' across the divide between Neolithic and Early Bronze Age society.

Concludes that far from showing a marked population influx the archaeological record for the Late Bronze Age - Early Iron Age shows continuity across a range of human activity. The ritual practice of deliberate deposition to increase or reinforce social standing enjoyed a resurgence after 300 BC, implying some form of cultural continuity across the Late Bronze - Early Iron Age transition.

Deemed the Indo-European and socio-linguistic perspectives respectively, it is concluded from linguistic evidence that the most plausible date for the introduction of the language would be no earlier than c 1200 BC (see also 92/365).

Reports recent dating work on samples from the defences and features of the fort. The former were constructed in the Late Bronze Age and abandoned by 1,000-900 BC whilst the latter were almost all of the same period but also carried on into the Early Iron Age.

Discovered in 1869 and now in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, the flake is thought to have been found at Loughnashade. It suggests that Mesolithic activity may be evidenced in areas other than those indicated by artefact concentrations.