BRONZE-AGE ORNAMENTATION IN IRELAND
The ornament of the Bronze Age in Ireland consists of chevrons, hatched
triangles, lozenges, etc., combined with some wavy patterns, and later
in some instances with the spirals introduced from Scandinavia,[53]
where this motive had penetrated early from the AEgean along the amber
route. This early type of ornament can be seen on some of the bronze
celts, and also on the pottery, notably the food-vessels, which are
often most tastefully decorated. The ornamentation, however, can be
most fully studied on the inscribed stones in the great monuments of
the New Grange group. These monuments, perhaps the most remarkable in
Western Europe, have justly aroused the interest of generations of
archaeologists, and many interpretations have been placed upon their
decoration. Having dealt so fully with this subject in a recent book,
"New Grange and other Incised Tumuli in Ireland," 1912, it is not
proposed to go into the question again, but there are one or two points
that may be noticed.
[53] See Hoernes, "Jahrbuch fuer Altertnmskunde," Band vi, p. 163.
The most remarkable feature about the ornamentation at New Grange is
the occurrence of the spiral motive; and it is the presence of this
distinctive motive which has led to so much speculation.
It may be stated at once that the general view at present held by
those who have studied the question is that the spiral was introduced,
and that in the case of Ireland it was derived from Scandinavia.
The similarity between New Grange and the tholos tombs of the mainland
of Greece is so striking that it is at least likely that the former
may have been derived from the latter.
In examining the monument of New Grange, the author had been led by
long study, and the comparison with motives common in the AEgean at
about the same period, to explain the ornamentation, notably in the
cases of the large stones illustrated in the book, p. 75, as derived
from combinations of ornaments commonly found on AEgean pottery, these
motives being themselves connected with the symbolism of sun-worship.
In the case of other markings, it was considered these were possibly
derived from the decoration of certain objects of Scandinavian origin.
In an article in _L'Anthropologie_, vol. xxiii, p. 29, dealing with
the subject, M. J. Dechelette has put forward other views with regard
to the markings at New Grange. M. Dechelette sees in the markings at
New Grange a degenerated copy of the female idols of neolithic times,
carvings of which in a more or less rudimentary form have been found
in the Iberian peninsula, Italy, France, England, and Scandinavia. It
may be mentioned that from the occurrence of carvings of this idol on
sepulchral monuments it is to be connected with funeral rites. M.
Dechelette supports his contentions with a wealth of illustrations
drawn from the tattooed idols of Greece, Portugal, and Aveyron, the
engraved chalk cylinder from Madrid, the incised lines from
Almizaraque, the sculptures from the artificial grottos of Marne, the
vase fragments of Charantaise, the chalk drum from Folkton Wold
(Yorkshire), and the engravings from the dolmens of Locmariaquer.
On p. 43 M. Dechelette gives a scheme of the evolution of the pattern
of the idol, starting from fairly well-defined eyes, eyebrows, and
nose, with chevron marks imitating tattooing. The face becomes
stylized by the substitution of a mere arched line for the eyebrows,
and concentric circles for the eyes, the tattooing marks becoming a
conventional pattern of regular chevrons. In the Irish examples the
spiral replaces the concentric circles for the eyes, and the pattern
below is further enriched by lozenges, and finally we arrive at a form
in which the spiral has an eyebrow above and a single lozenge below,
and this form M. Dechelette compares to the engravings on the slabs at
New Grange. The shield-like figure on the roofing stone of the right
recess at New Grange is compared by M. Dechelette to the engravings on
the dolmen of Pierres-Plates at Locmariaquer, which also appear to be
a stylized form of the idol.
M. Dechelette compares the very remarkable boundary-stone at Dowth,
with the engraving of suns on it, to the vases from Millares, province
d'Almerie, which are ornamented with raised circles, these in their
turn being derived from a degenerate form of the idol.
M. Dechelette applies the same explanation to the scribings at
Gavir'inis, the spiral ornamentation of which is to be regarded as
derived from Ireland.
This very brilliant and original interpretation of the scribings at
New Grange seems to fit the case exceedingly well, and M. Dechelette's
theory may be regarded as a very probable one for the origin of the
markings, but it must be remembered that there is some difficulty
caused by the fact that the similarity in plan between New Grange
and the tholos tombs, as has been pointed out, is too great to be
neglected. Now if New Grange is derived from this source, it cannot
well be placed earlier than 1000 B.C. The idol, on the other hand, is
neolithic in date, and must have survived a considerable time to have
influenced the Irish carvings. It must also be borne in mind that no
other forms of this idol have been met with in Ireland.
* * * * *
INDEX
A
Abercromby, Hon. John, 2, 96.
Amber found in Ireland, 2, 65, 68.
Annadale, Co. Leitrim, wooden shield found at, 75.
Annaghkeen, Co. Galway, burial at, 1, 57.
Anvil and hammers, 27, 28.
Armoy, Co. Antrim, find made at, 81.
Athenry, Co. Galway, bronze objects found at, 87.
B
Bann, River, Co. Antrim, 21.
Beakers found in Ireland, 95.
Belfast, find of gold ring-money and bronze celt at, 87.
Belmore Mountain, Co. Fermanagh, interment at, 1.
Belturbet, bronze spear-heads found at, 33, 82.
Birr, King's Co., celts found at, 7.
Broighter find, 80.
Bronze Age in Ireland, chronology of, 3-5;
1st period of, 23-27;
finds of, 80-87;
ornamentation, characteristic of, 101-103.
Bronze celts, evolution of, 23;
hafting of, 24, 25;
ornamentation of, 25, 26.
C
Cappeen, Co. Cork, copper celts found at, 8, 85.
Carraconway, Co. Cavan, trumpets found at, 87.
Carrick O'Gunnell, Co. Limerick, trumpets found at, 86.
Carrowkeel, Co. Sligo, interments at, 1.
Chapes of bronze for swords, 72, 73.
Chute Hall, Co. Kerry, trumpets found at, 85.
Cinerary urns, 99, 100.
Clare find of gold ornaments, 65, 66.
Clements, Mr. H. J. B., 65.
Clonbrin, Co. Longford, leather shield found at, 77.
Clonmacnois, gold torc found at, 80.
Clontoo, Co. Kerry, copper celts found at, 8.
Coachford, Co. Cork, objects found at, 68, 81.
Copper, counties in which obtained, 6.
Copper celts, list of counties in which these have been found, 10-12.
Copper Period in Ireland, 6-23.
Cork, Co., trumpets found in, 87.
Crumlin, Co. Dublin, urn found at, 2.
Cullinagh, Co. Kerry, celts found at, 7.
D
Daggers and Rapiers, 56-61.
Dechelette, M. J., 58, 65, 102, 103.
Disk-headed pins, 81, 92, 93.
Dowris hoard, 82.
Drumabest, Co. Antrim, trumpets found at, 87.
Dublin, copper celts found in, 8.
Dunfierth, Co. Kildare, gold lunulae found at, 87.
F
Finds of copper celts, 7, 8, 10-12.
Finds of Bronze-Age implements and weapons, 80-87.
Food-vessels, description of, 95-99.
G
Glenstal, Co. Limerick, find of bronze objects at, 82.
Gold balls found at Carrick-on-Shannon, 65.
Gorgets, gold, 62-64.
Gowland, Prof. W., 4.
H
Halberds, 12-23;
analyses of, 17.
Hallstatt Period in Ireland, 5, 63.
Hillswood, Co. Galway, halberds found at, 85.
I
Incense cups, 99.
Irish gold deposits, 46, 47.
Iron sword of Hallstatt type found in Ireland, 72.
K
Kilfeakle, Co. Tipperary, bronze implements found at, 81.
Killymeddy, Co. Antrim, find of moulds at, 40, 81.
Kinnegoe bog, Co. Armagh, bronze objects found at, 85.
Knocknague, Co. Galway, celts found at, 7.
L
Lahardoun, Tulla, Co. Clare, find of bronze objects at, 81.
Leaf-shaped swords, 71-73.
Lisnacroghera crannog, 45.
Lissane, Co. Derry, rapier found at, 58.
Lough Gur, Co. Limerick, bronze shield found at, 74.
Lunulae, gold, 47-55.
M
Macroom, Co. Cork, trumpets found at, 87.
Manillas, African, similarity to Irish gold fibulae, 70.
Montelius, Dr. Oscar, 3, 23, 58, 61.
Moulds for casting spear-heads, 39-44;
absence of, for casting leaf-shaped swords, 72;
for casting flat celts, 6, 9.
Mountrivers, Coachford, Co. Cork, find at, 81.
Moyarta, Co. Clare, trumpets found at, 85.
Much, Dr., 22.
Muller, Prof. S., 64.
Mycenae, leaf-shaped swords found at, 71.
N
Naas, Co. Kildare, excavation at, 1.
Neolithic pottery found in Ireland, 95.
New Grange, 3-5;
ornamentation at, 101-103.
O
Omagh, Co. Tyrone, moulds found at, 81.
P
Padstow, Cornwall, gold lunulae found at, 48.
Palstaves with double loops, 27.
Penannular rings and ring-money, 67-70.
Polybius quoted, 77.
Pottery of the Bronze Age, 94-100.
R
Ridgeway, Prof. W., 70.
Ring-money, 70.
S
Schmidt, Herr Hubert, 23.
Shields, bronze, 74, 75;
wood, 75;
leather, 77.
Sickles, 90, 91;
mould for casting, 90.
Smith, Mr. R. A., 64.
Spain, halberds from, 19.
Spear-heads, 29-38;
spear-ferules, 44, 45.
St. Columba's College, collection, 82.
Sullivan, Mr. M. J., 39.
Sun-disks, gold, 64, 65.
T
Tempo, Co. Fermanagh, swords found at, 82.
Topped mountain cairn, find of objects made at, 56.
Torcs, 78-80.
Trumpets, 88, 89;
finds of, in Ireland, 85-87.
W
Wicklow, gold obtained from, 46.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Bronze Age in Ireland, by George Coffey