BRONZE-AGE FINDS
[Illustration: PLATE IX. Gold Torcs from Clonmacnois and Broighter.
_p. 80._]
One of the greatest difficulties to be contended with in any attempt
to arrive at a working chronology for the Prehistoric Period in Ireland
is that, though Ireland had a rich Bronze Age, as attested by the
magnificent collection of objects preserved in the National Collection,
yet in very few cases have any of these objects been found in
association. Excavation carried on under scientific supervision was
practically unknown in Ireland until quite recent years, and though, no
doubt, hoards of associated objects have been discovered in the country,
yet trustworthy particulars as to their finding have hardly ever been
preserved, and the objects themselves have generally been scattered.
Under these circumstances it seemed useful to gather together in the
present chapter an account of the finds--unfortunately very few--in
which associated objects have been discovered, and of which there is
indisputable evidence of their association:--
1. Find of a socketed celt, a gouge, a pin, a razor (the last in a
simple leather case), a portion of a woollen garment, an ornament of
horse-hair, like a tassel, and some pieces of wood. These objects were
found in a bog in the townland of Cromaghs, parish of Armoy, Co.
Antrim, in May, 1904, when cutting turf[33] (Fig. 71, nos. 1-5).
[33] Proc. Royal Irish Academy, vol. xxvi, Sec. C, p. 119.
2. A find of late Bronze-Age objects discovered in a bog in the
townland of Lahardoun, Tulla, Co. Clare, in May, 1861. The find
contained the following objects:--two small socketed celts, a
disk-headed pin, a plain bronze ring, and a bronze fibula[34] (Fig.
71, nos. 6-10).
[34] Proc. Royal Irish Academy, vol. xxvi, Sec. C, 124.
3. Find at Mountrivers, Rylane, Coachford, Co. Cork. This find was
made in May, 1907, and contained the following objects:--two socketed
bronze celts, two gold fibulae, one fibula of copper or bronze, and
eleven amber beads[35] (fig. 62).
[35] Proc. Royal Irish Academy, vol. xxx, Sec. C, p. 85.
4. Find at Kilfeakle, Co. Tipperary, made in May, 1906, The find
consisted of a bronze socketed celt, a socketed sickle, two chisels,
and a gouge[36] (fig. 74).
[36] Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland,
vol. xxxvii, p. 86.
5. Find of moulds for casting primitive spear-heads. This find was
made near Omagh, Co. Tyrone, about 1882, and consisted of seven blocks
of sandstone for casting tanged and socketed spear-heads.[37] (See
page 39.)
[37] Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland,
vol. xxxvii, p. 181.
6. Find of moulds made in December, 1910, at Killymeddy, Ballymoney,
Co. Antrim. The find contained two complete moulds for casting looped
socketed spear-heads, and half a mould for a looped socketed
spear-head, a mould for one side of a long dagger-blade, a large mould
for casting one side of a leaf-shaped knife, two halves of a mould
for casting a sickle, eight fragments of moulds, two sharpening
stones, and a stone for hammering or smoothing objects.[38] (See page
40.)
[38] Proc. Royal Irish Academy, vol. xxx, Sec. C, p. 83.
7. Find made at Tempo, Co. Fermanagh. This find was made in 1912, and
consisted of two leaf-shaped bronze swords with notches below the
blades, and a very fine socketed spear-head[39] (figs. 65 and 37).
[39] Proc. Royal Irish Academy, vol. xxx, Sec. C, p. 91.
8. Two leaf-shaped spear-heads found together at the Ford, Belturbet,
Co. Cavan[40] (fig. 30).
[40] Proc. Royal Irish Academy, vol. xxx, Sec. C, p. 93.
9. Large hoard found at Dowris, King's Co., about 1825. A small
portion of this hoard, consisting of two bronze trumpets, seven
crotals, five socketed spear-heads, and a socketed gouge, are
preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's collection in the National
Museum. There are other portions of this hoard in the British Museum
and at Birr Castle.[41]
[41] "British Museum Bronze-Age Guide," p. 28.
10. Bronze socketed celt, large bronze ring, two smaller rings with
lateral-shaped trumpet projections, and a small flat ring all found
together near Glenstal, Co. Limerick, about 1901.
11. Large find of objects, formerly in St. Columba's College
Collection, all stated to have been found together, in 1830, in a bog
at Derryhall, County Antrim. The find comprises fourteen disk-headed
bronze pins of late Bronze-Age type, and two bronze pins, with
cup-shaped heads, a bronze dagger and two bronze knives (one of the
latter being socketed), a socketed celt, nine bronze rings, a bronze
ring with side perforations and a double ring, a bronze fibula with
three beads; also two late brooches, and two late pins, which are said
to have proved part of this find, but whose association with the
remaining objects is very doubtful.
[Illustration: Fig. 71.--Two Late Bronze-Age Finds.]
[Illustration: Fig. 72.--Late Bronze-Age horse-hair Fabrics from
Armoy, Co. Antrim.]
12. Bronze fibula, and twenty-two bronze rings, found together,
about 1876, at Broca, Rochford Bridge, County Westmeath.
13. Socketed bronze celt, bronze fibula, bronze ring, and disk-headed
Bronze-Age pin. All found together at Lapoudin, Tulla, County Clare.
14. Three large, seventeen small, eight double bronze rings, and one
fragment, probably all found together.
15. Bronze fibula, bronze gouge, and three rings, found together, but
locality unrecorded.
16. Six copper celts found together at Cappeen, County Cork.
[Illustration: Fig. 73.--Bronze Implements, Co. Tipperary.]
17. Seven halberds found together at Hillswood, County Galway.[42]
[42] Proc. Royal Irish Academy, vol. xxvii, Sec. C, p. 97.
18. Two bronze rings, a small leaf-shaped spear-head, a socketed celt,
and a small gold bulla, said to have been found together in Kinnegoe
bog, County Armagh, in 1840. St. Columba's College Collection.
19. Three bronze trumpets, one in two parts, found in a bog in the
barony of Moyarta, County Clare.
20. Six bronze trumpets, one in two parts, found in a bog close to
Chute Hall, in the townland of Clogher, Clemin, three miles from
Tralee, County Kerry.
21. Two trumpets, one in two parts, probably found together in a bog
at Carrick O'Gunnell, County Limerick. (These are probably two of
those described by Mr. R. Ousley, in the Trans. R.I.A., 1788.)
[Illustration: Fig. 74.--Bronze Implements found at Kilfeakle,
Co. Tipperary.]
22. Three trumpets found at Carraconway, near Cloughouter Castle,
County Cavan.[43]
[43] Wilde's Catalogue of the Royal Irish Academy's Collection, p. 626.
23. Two trumpets found at Macroom, County Cork.
24. Four trumpets found in the bog of Drumabest, Kilraughts, County
Antrim, in 1840.[44]
[44] _Ibid._
25. Two trumpets found in County Cork. (Londesborough collection.)
26. Two trumpets and a part of a third found together, but locality
unknown.
27. Two trumpets probably found together, from Trinity College,
Dublin, collection.
28. A socketed bronze celt and gold ring-money found together near
Belfast.[45]
[45] Archaeologia, vol. lxi, p. 153.
29. Four gold lunulae, found together at Dunfierth, Carbury, County
Kildare.[46]
[46] "Wilde's Catalogue of Gold Antiquities," p. 18.
30. A large spear-head, a round bronze shield, with a central boss for
the hand, and two circles of smaller bosses, found in a mound or rath,
at Athenry, County Galway.[47]
[47] Horae Ferales. pl. xi, fig. 1.
With the exception of Nos. 4, 5, 27, and 30, the above-mentioned finds
are preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's collection, in the National
Museum, Dublin.