The Burren and the Aran Islands: Exploring the Archaeology

The Burren and the Aran Islands form a region renowned for its geology, flora and archaeology. Possibly the greatest interest is in its archaeology but the ancient monuments are often perceived as shrouded in mystery and beyond explanation. Recent studies have shed considerable light on the functions of these monuments and the people who built them. This book presents these archaeological interpretations in an attractive and engaging manner. The book begins with a brief introduction and is then divided into two parts, the first dealing with the Burren, the second with the Aran Islands. Significant sites are highlighted while 'panel' features explain more tangential topics, e.g., how to build a wedge tomb. Contents include Colonisation and Early Settlement, From Neolithic to Bronze Age, The Celts, The Arrival of Christianity, Early Medieval Chiefs and their Stone Forts, and finally Later Tower Houses and Military Constructions. This is a heavily illustrated book. Captions are often extensive and can be read separately or in conjunction with the text. Overall it is designed to be read cover-to-cover or dipped into at random. It will appeal to all with a previous interest in the region as well as visitors and tourists who want a clear, concise and attractively-presented explanation of the archaeology. Dr Jones writing transforms the dry academic material of excavation reports and archaeological inventories into an engaging and understandable story.

Table of Contents:
Introduction ] 17 The Landscape 19 The Archaeology 20 Acknowledgements 22 THE BURREN The First People on the Burren 25 The First Farmers on the Burren 27 Poulnabrone Portal Tomb 30 Poulawack Cairn 33 Doolin Stone Axe Production Site 40 Turlough Hill 42 The Parknabinnia Chambered Tomb (Cl. 153) on Roughan Hill 46 Territory and Society on the Burren in the Neolithic 51 From Neolithic to Bronze Age 55 Competition and Social Upheaval on Roughan Hill 56 Excavating a Farmstead on Roughan Hill 60 Dating the Ancient Field Walls on Roughan Hill 63 The Wedge Tombs of the Burren 65 Building a Wedge Tomb 68 Gold, Power and War 71 Gifts to the Gods 73 The Cairns of the Burren 76 Coolnatullagh Cairn 77 Celts? 79 The Coming of Christianity 84 Rathborney 86 Oughtmama 88 The Horizontal Water Mill at Oughtmama 90 St Mac Duagh's Hermitage at Keelhilla 93 Glencolumbkille 95 Cahercommaun and the Early Medieval Chiefdoms of the Burren 98 The Excavation of Cahercommaun 101 Wool Production at Cahercommaun 104 Ironworking at Cahercommaun 105 The Chiefdom of Corcu Modruad 108 The Vikings 109 The Ringforts of the Burren 109 The O'Davoren Law School at Cahermacnaughten 113 Medieval Churches and Society on the Burren 115 Kilfenora 116 The High Crosses of Kilfenora 120 Corcomroe Cistercian Abbey 122 Killilagh and Toomullin Churches in Doolin 128 Carran Church 130 Noughaval Church and Settlement 131 Relics and Pilgrimage on the Burren 134 Killinaboy 136 Temple Cronan 138 The Veneration of the T-Shaped Crozier in North Clare 140 The Tower Houses of the Burren 142 Contemporary Travellers' Accounts of Tower Houses 143 Carn Mhic Tail 147 Leamaneh Castle 148 Nineteenth-Century Military Fortifications on the Burren 151 THE ARAN ISLANDS The Colonisation and Early Settlement of the Aran Islands 155 The Wedge Tombs of the Aran Islands 157 The Cnoc Raithni Burial Mound, Inisheer 159 The Late Bronze Age Chiefdom of Dun Aonghasa 161 The Form of the Original Late Bronze Age Hillfort 162 Controlling Production at Dun Aonghasa 165 Excavating Dun Aonghasa 166 The Stone Forts of the Aran Islands 169 Dun Aonghasa, Inishmore 172 Dun Eoghanachta, Inishmore 177 The Other Stone Forts 178 Life Outside the Forts 184 Baile na mBocht, Inishmore 185 Christianity and Pilgrimage on the Aran Islands 189 St Enda's Monastery of Cill Aeinne (Killeany), Inishmore 190 Temple Benan 191 Tighlagheany 195 Cross-Decorated Stones of the Aran Islands 197 Excavating St Ciaran's Monastery (Teampaill Chiarain), Inishmore 199 Temple Brecan (The Seven Churches), Inishmore 204 The High Crosses of Temple Brecan 208 The Leapacha of Temple Brecan 210 Cill Cheanainn, Inishmaan 212 Teampall Chaomhain, Inisheer 214 Other Interesting Church Sites 215 Radiocarbon Dating the Churches of the Aran Islands 219 Clochain 220 Power Struggles on the Aran Islands 222 O'Brien's Castle, Inisheer 223 Arkin Fort, Inishmore 224 Archaeology of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries 227 Signal Towers 227 Roadside Cenotaphs and Wayside Cairns 229 Site Index 232 Maps 235 Glossary 245 Bibliography 250 Index 263

About the Author :
Carleton Jones lectures in archaeology at the National University of Ireland, Galway. His interest in the archaeology of the Burren and the Aran Islands began in 1989 and he has surveyed and excavated in the region since. His work has been published in both academic and popular journals, as well as being featured on TG4, RTE and local radio.

Review :
'Clearly a skilled hand at making the technicalities of archaeology interesting and informative to the layman' Books Ireland 'Biggest success is the sense of enthusiasm that he conveys' The Irish Times 'Lacks for nothing' Sunday Tribune 'An engaging and understandable story' Heritage Outlook 'Painstaking and scholarly work' Irish Examiner