Pre-Christian Ireland

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Pre-Christian Ireland From the First Settlers to the Early Celts Peter Harbison Although Ireland was one of the last corners of Europe to be settled by man, it is particularly rich in prehistoric remains. The great passage-tomb of Newgrange, dating to the fourth millennium bc, has become internationally famous since the discovery of its orientation towards the rising sun at the winter solstice, and excavations at the neighboring tomb of Knowth have given unprecedented insight into the wealth of Irish megalithic art. The technical brilliance and intricate designs of gold and bronze objects from Ireland's more recent prehistoric past amaze and delight modern viewers. During the Iron Age the Irish Celts produced some of the finest works of craftsmanship in the whole corpus of Celtic art. Peter Harbison has written the first full-scale survey of Irish prehistory for a general audience to have appeared in years. Pre-Christian Ireland gives the story of human settlement from the... Tovább

Fülszöveg

Pre-Christian Ireland From the First Settlers to the Early Celts Peter Harbison Although Ireland was one of the last corners of Europe to be settled by man, it is particularly rich in prehistoric remains. The great passage-tomb of Newgrange, dating to the fourth millennium bc, has become internationally famous since the discovery of its orientation towards the rising sun at the winter solstice, and excavations at the neighboring tomb of Knowth have given unprecedented insight into the wealth of Irish megalithic art. The technical brilliance and intricate designs of gold and bronze objects from Ireland's more recent prehistoric past amaze and delight modern viewers. During the Iron Age the Irish Celts produced some of the finest works of craftsmanship in the whole corpus of Celtic art. Peter Harbison has written the first full-scale survey of Irish prehistory for a general audience to have appeared in years. Pre-Christian Ireland gives the story of human settlement from the beginnings 10,000 years ago to St. Patrick's Christianizing mission in the fifth century ad. It combines the solid groundwork of earlier generations of archaeologists with the great advances made in research during the last two decades. The latest thinking on the astronomical significance of megalithic tombs and the social implications of the great Bronze Age hoards is interwoven with an up-to-date account of the recent major excavations at sites such as Carrowmore, Rathgall, and Navan Fort. The author also looks afresh at the controversial question of when the Celts first arrived in Ireland. Pre-Christian Ireland will find a place on the bookshelves of all who are fascinated by the pagan origins of modern Ireland. Vissza