The Bronze Age Period In Ireland
When metal working commenced with the first use of copper the Neolithic people in Ireland were brought into an Irish Bronze Age. Archaeologists have been able to determine a lot about Bronze age Ireland from the evidence that has been found over the years. The historic evidence shows advancement not only with technology but also the Irish landscape caused possibly by the weather.
The Bronze Age period is split into two parts:
- The Early Bronze Age - 2500BC - 1500BC
- The Late Bronze Age - 1500BC - 300BC
Key events of Ireland’s Bronze Age
Metal working was late arriving in Ireland from the rest of Europe, nearly 2000 years late. The reason why you see Irelands Bronze Age dated later than the rest of Europe. Skilled bronze workers arrived from France settling in Ireland and teaching people their use of bronze for making all sorts of objects.
The Copper Age for Ireland
With large pockets of coppers in Ireland it soon becomes a popular destination. Copper mines were opened and the metal was extracted from the earth. One of the oldest copper mines in Europe from the Bronze Age is at Mount Gabriel in County Cork. Dated from 1500-1200 BC this mine had 25 mine shafts for extracting copper.
Better tools and weapons were now being produced with the manufacturing of axes, spearheads, daggers and halberds. In the later years the discovery of melting copper with tin to form Bronze advanced tools and weapons such as rapiers, swords and shields. Some of the popular tools and weapons produced in the Early Bronze Age of Ireland included daggers, halberds, spearheads and flat axes.
Bronze Age Gold
Gold became a popular metal during the Bronze Age period in Ireland and there was no shortage of it either. Museum's in Ireland hold some of finest Gold artifacts dating back to the Bronze Age. Its believed Ireland could not have not produced so much gold which provides evidence of trading between Ireland and the rest of Europe.
Gold became a symbol of power and wealth in Ireland during the Late Bronze Age period. Many ornaments to survive included lunula's (crescent-shaped collars made from thin sheet gold), torcs (necklets made of twisted gold), dress and sleeve fasteners and collars.
Burials and Tombs of the Bronze Age
On the eastern part of the island the people were moving away from megalithic type tombs. They began using simpler burials known as cists which is a small stone built coffin like box, hundreds of these have been found all over Ireland.
On the western part of Ireland Wedge tombs were built believed to be have been influenced by visitors from France as similar type tombs can be found there. Some are boxed shaped with distinctive close double walling of the gallery. The roofs of a Wedge tomb are built by laying large stone slabs across the gallery resting on the top of each wall.
Bronze Age Henges
A number of henges have been discovered in Ireland in such places as the Boyne Valley, where newgrange had been built in the Neolithic period, but also in Roscommon, Sligo, Clare, Limerick, Kildare and Waterford. Only recently a henge was found near the ancient site of Tara. Henges were probably used for ceremonial purpose and usually built in or around Neolithic megaliths. A henge was built in a circle usually with wood or stone.
Ancient Stone Circles
Dotted around the Irish countryside Stone Circles were built during the late Bronze Age period such as Beltany Stone Circle found near Raphoe in County Donegal. We don't know the exact purpose of these Stone Circles but it believed they may have been used for religious rituals which may have included observations of the sun and moon. Other Stone Circles can be found in Ballycrovane, Dooncarton, Drombeg, Kenmare and Punchestown.
Although we have a vast amount of evidence from the Bronze Age period such as gold artifacts, ornaments, jewelry, tombs and even stone circles there is still lots we do not know. For example, we are unsure what language was spoken in Ireland at the time leaving some to believe some form of Irish may have been spoken. It wasn't until after the Bronze Age when the Celts arrived in Ireland during the Iron Age Period that we know of a language being spoken here.
Sources and further reading
- The Bronze Age - museum.ie
- An Introduction to Early Bronze Age Metalworking
- The Early Bronze Age Cist Burial at Newtownstewart Castle
- Irish Prehistoric Architecture
- Ring ditches found in Derry
