Bronze Age The Bronze Age is the second

Bronze Age The Bronze Age is the second part of the threeage system (Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age) for classifying and studying prehistoric societies

Timeframe �Early 2000 -1500 B. C. - Gold Discs, Lunulae, Pottery and earthware. �Middle 1500 -1200 B. C. - Flanged Gold Earrings �Late 1200 -500 B. C- Torc, Gorgets, Hair Lock Rings, Dress fasteners, Bulla, Leather wooden and bronzed shields, Bronzed cauldrons.

Background � The Bronze Age was a gradual development from the Stone age � There was no sharp division between the early and late Bronze age � The Bronze Age is the first evidence of art and design in Ireland � Unlike the Neolithic people who used decoration on tombs for possibly religious reason’s this new era used decoration for artistic reasons

Revision �Where did the Bronze Age people get their materials? �How did they make bronze? �What method did they use for making some of their tools?

�Who were the Beaker people?

Bowl Food Vessel, Greenhills, Vase Food Vessel, Greenhills, Dublin, 2000 -1800 BC (burial) Dublin, 2000 -1800 BC (burial)

�What type of graves do you think the Bronze Age people were buried in? (remember 2000 -500 B. c. )

Reconstructed cist grave containing a crouched female skeleton and a bowl food vessel, Keenage, Meath, 2000 -1800 BC

�What type of houses do you think the Bronze Age people lived in? (remember 2000 -500 B. C. ) �How did Bronze Age people cook their food?

Crannógs Reconstruction, Cragganowen Crannog, Co’ Clare

�Why would the Bronze Age people have fought?

Early Bronze Age- Sundisc

Two Gold Discs (Sundiscs), Co’Roscommon, 2200 -1800 BC

Decoration and Techniques �Nuggets of Gold/Metal were beaten into thin sheets. �Bronze Age gold ornaments were generally decorated by ‘Repoussé’ and ‘Incision/chasing’.

Decoration and Techniques � Repoussé- was common in both Bronze and Gold objects. � The term repoussé comes from the French word meaning pushed back. � It is a method of hammering a design on the reverse side of thin gold objects/sheets so it creates the design in low relief. � Incision/Chasing- refers to a groove, furrow, channel or indentation. It is hammering the design in from the front of the metal. � There is no loss of metal in either process, as it is stretched locally and the surface remains continuous.

Gold Disc or Sundisc – 2000 B. C. Form and Function �Earliest example of Irish gold Ornaments. �Small thin gold discs around 11. 6 cm in diameter (but have been found in various sizes) and are often found in pairs �Cut from thin sheet of beaten gold. �There are small holes at the centre of the disc which suggest that the disc was once sewn to a garment or a leather belt. Possible worn at the chest

Two Gold Discs (Sundiscs), Co’Roscommon, 2200 -1800 BC

Decoration and Technique �Decorated in repoussé (by hammering and punching a series of ridges, dots and chevrons from behind). �Usually the discs had geometric decoration showing a cross encircled by concentric bands of Chevrons (Zig-zag design) and dots.

Sundisc Repoussé Cross design Concentric circles Small holes in centre Geometric design

�Some discs were used as a form of currency. Irish gold has been found as far away as Turkey.

The Craftsmen �Who do you think made these pieces? �Do you think they were valued people?

Gold Lunula, Ross, Westmeath, 2000 BC Paddle shaped Locking device Crescent shape

Geometric design Incision technique Chevron pattern

Gold Lunala Function and Form �Most common found gold object from early Bronze Age and is unique to Ireland �Around 2000 B. C onwards. �The name Lunula mean “little moon” as was give to this gold ornament due to its crescent shape. �It was most likely a neck ornament.

Decoration and Technique �Like the sun disc they have been cut from a thin piece of hammered gold , with slightly thicker ends in a paddle shape that can be turned to form a locking device. �The decoration is normally a fine incised pattern of geometric design, triangles, parallel lozenges and chevrons near the edge. �The National Museum has 45 Lunulae in their collection

Stone Carving from Stone Age to Bronze Age ORGANIC Entrance stone, Newgrange, 3000 B. C. GEOMETRIC Decorated Stone, Yougal, Co’ Cork, 2500 - 1700 B. C.

Gold in the Bronze Age �As gold was useless for any practical purpose, and also because of its beautiful colour and rarity, it quickly became a highly desirable ornamental material. • Its use may have coincided with the rise of the first 'aristocracies' in these communities. It is for this reason that the period is sometimes called Ireland's first "golden age“.

Topshop Pennies

Barter/Trade: a system of trading one’s goods for the goods of another: occurred before the introduction of money