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Exploring the Hidden Depths of Tara’s Hinterland: Geophysical Survey and Landscape Investigations in the Meath–North Dublin Region, Eastern Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2015

Ger Dowling
Ger Dowling*
Affiliation:
The Discovery Programme, 63 Merrion Square, Dublin 2, Ireland. Email: gerdowling@discoveryprogramme.ie
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Abstract

This paper explores how geophysical survey, undertaken in conjunction with landscape and historical analysis, is contributing to a deeper understanding of prehistoric focal centres and landscape organisation in the wider ‘hinterland’ of the Hill of Tara, Co. Meath. Arising out of the Discovery Programme’s ‘Late Iron Age and ‘Roman’ Ireland’ (LIARI) Project, the present investigations targeted a number of prominent hilltop sites in the Meath–north Dublin region suspected, on the basis of archaeological, topographical, and early documentary evidence, to have been important ceremonial/political centres in later prehistory. Foremost among these are the Hill of Lloyd (Co. Meath), the location of a prehistoric enclosure overlooking the early monastic foundation at Kells; Faughan Hill (Co. Meath), the traditional burial place of Niall of the Nine Hostages; and Knockbrack (Co. Dublin), whose summit is crowned by a large, internally-ditched enclosure with central burial mound. The discovery through this multi-disciplinary study of additional large-scale enclosures, burial monuments, and other significant archaeological features serves to further corroborate the deep historical importance of these sites, and opens up new avenues for exploring such themes as territoriality, social organisation, and identity in the wider Tara region.

Résumé

Exploration des profondeurs cachées de l’arrière-pays de Tara:prospection géophysique et études du paysage dans le comté de Meath- région de Dublin nord, Irlande de l’est, de Ger Dowling

Cette étude explore comment une prospection géophysique entreprise conjointement avec une analyse du paysage et de l’histoire, contribue à une compréhension plus profonde des centres préhistoriques importants et de l’organisation du paysage dans le cadre plus étendu de l’arrière-pays de la colline de Tara, comté de Meath. Résultant du projet ‘Irlande de l’âge du fer tardif et romaine’ (LIARI), du programme de découverte, les études actuelles ont eu pour cible un nombre de sites de sommet de colline proéminents dans le Meath, région de Dublin nord qui, nous doutions nous, sur la base de témoignages archéologiques, topographiques et de documents anciens, avaient été d’importants centres cérémoniels et politiques de la préhistoire tardive. Parmi eux, les principaux étaient la colline de Hill of Lloyd (comté de Meath), site d’un enclos préhistorique dominant l’ancienne fondation monastique de Kells ;la colline de Faughan Hill (comté de Meath), selon la tradition lieu d’inhumation de Niall des Neuf Otages ; et Knockbrack (comté de Dublin) dont le sommet est couronné d’un grand enclos à fossé intérieur avec tertre funéraire central. La découverte, grâce à cette étude pluri-disciplinaire, de nouveaux enclos de grande taille, monuments funéraires et autres vestiges archéologiques d’une importance considérable vient à nouveau confirmer l’extrème importance historique de ces sites et ouvre de nouvelles voies à l’exploration de thèmes tels que territorialité, organisation sociale et identité dans la région plus étendue de Tara.

Zussamenfassung

Die Erforschung der verborgenen Tiefen von Taras Hinterland: Geophysikalische Surveys und Landschaftsuntersuchungen in der Region Meath-Norddublin, Ostirland, von Ger Gowling

Dieser Beitrag verfolgt, wie geophysikalische Surveys, die in Verbindung mit historischen und Landschaftsanalysen durchgeführt wurden, zu einem tieferen Verständnis prähistorischer zentraler Orte und Landschaftsstrukturen im weiteren Hinterland des Hill of Tara, Co. Meath, beitragen. Entstanden aus dem Projekt „Late Iron Age and ‚Roman’ Ireland” (LIARI – Späteisenzeitliches und „römisches” Irland) des Discovery Programme, zielten die jüngsten Untersuchungen auf eine Anzahl prominenter Höhensiedlungen in der Region Meath–Norddublin, die auf Grundlage archäologischer, topographischer und früher schriftlicher Belege als wichtige zeremonielle bzw. politische Zentren der jüngeren Vorgeschichte in Betracht gezogen wurden. Bedeutsam sind hier vor allem der Hill of Loyd (Co. Meath), der Ort einer prähistorischen Grabenanlage, die die frühe monastische Gründung von Kells überblickt; Faughan Hill (Co. Meath), der traditionell als Bestattungsplatz von Niall of the Nine Hostages gilt; und Knockbrack (Co. Dublin), dessen Gipfel von einer großen, innen mit Graben versehenen Einfriedung mit zentralem Hügelgrab gekrönt wird. Die im Rahmen dieses multidisziplinären Projektes gelungene Entdeckung zusätzlicher großflächiger Wall/Grabenanlagen, Grabanlagen und weiterer bedeutender archäologischer Fundstellen hilft, die tiefe historische Bedeutung dieser Plätze weiter zu untermauern, und zeigt neue Wege auf für die Erforschung solcher Themen wie Territorialität, soziale Organisation und Identität in der weiteren Region von Tara.

Resumen

Explorando las profundidades ocultas del entorno de Tara: prospecciones geofísicas y análisis del paisaje en la región de Meath-norte de Dublín, Irlanda del Este, por Ger Dowling

En este artículo se explora cómo la prospección geofísica, junto con el análisis histórico y del paisaje, contribuye a una mayor comprensión de los centros prehistóricos y de la organización del paisaje en el entorno del “hinterland” de Tara, Condado de Meath. Surgidas a partir del proyecto “Final de la Edad del Hierro y la Irlanda Romana (LIARI)”, las investigaciones actuales se han centrado en yacimientos situados sobre colinas prominentes de la región de Meath-norte de Dublín y que, en base a la evidencia arqueológica, topográfica y documental, parecen constituir importantes centros ceremoniales o políticos al final de la Prehistoria. Entre ellos destacan la Colina de Lloyd (Condado de Meath), en el que se localiza un recinto prehistórico ignorado por la temprana fundación monástica en Kells; Faughan Hill (Condado de Meath), el tradicional lugar de enterramiento de Niall of the Nine Hostages; y Knockbrack (Condado de Dublin) cuya cima está coronada por un gran recinto compartimentado mediante zanjas y con túmulo funerario central.El descubrimiento de nuevos recintos de grandes dimensiones, de monumentos funerarios y de otras evidencias arqueológicas relevantes gracias a este estudio multidisciplinar, contribuye a corroborar la importancia histórica de estos sitios, y abre nuevos caminos para explorar temas como la territorialidad, la organización social y la identidad en la amplia región de Tara.

Keywords

Landscapegeophysical surveyhilltop enclosureburial moundring-ditchlate prehistoric focal centreassemblyKnockbrackMallahowHill of LloydFaughan HillTaraTeltown
Type
Articles
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 81 , December 2015 , pp. 61 - 85
Copyright
© The Prehistoric Society 2015 

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