Our Roots in Ancient Civilisation 1 Ancient Ireland

Our Roots in Ancient Civilisation 1: Ancient Ireland 6 The Iron Age and the Celts WHAT YOU WILL LEARN At the end of this chapter you should understand. . . • The coming of the Iron Age and Celtic civilisation to Ireland. • How Celtic society was organised. • Houses, settlements, work and food of the Celtic people. • Celtic art. • Burial customs and ogham stones. Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

How do we know about the Iron Age and the Celts? Archaeological evidence (e. g. ringforts, hill forts, e. g. Hill of Tara) Documentary evidence: Celtic legends: An Táin Bó Cuailgne – a manuscript written in Irish – which tells the story of the fight between Connacht and Ulster over the Bull of Cooley Celtic laws, known as Brehon laws; they were written down later in manuscripts after Christianity brought writing to Ireland. Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Who were the Celts? La Tène Bronze Age First use of metal Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts Halstatt Early Christian Ireland Iron Age 500 BC Year 1 Iron replaced bronze; arrival of Celts 400 AD Arrival of Christianity

Houses and Settlements – Ring-forts What were the features of ring-forts? How were ring-forts built? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Houses and Settlements – Ring-forts How does a Staigue fort differ from other ring-forts? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Houses and Settlements – Crannógs • Fortified lake dwelling • Artificial island • Well-off families • Farming How were crannógs built? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Houses and settlements – Hill forts What use was made of hill forts? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Houses and Settlements – Promontory Forts What use was made of promontory forts? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Celtic Society Rí (king) What role did each of these play in Celtic society? Nobles (warriors and Aos Dána) Farmers Labourers and slaves Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Celtic House and Farm What do these drawings tell you about houses and work? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Food • Cattle – meat • Cows – milk, butter, cheese • Wheat, oats barley – bread, porridge, ale • Cooking – spits, fulacht fiadh, stone ovens • Feasting – the hero’s portion How was the rotary quern used? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Tools and Weapons Iron ore Clay oven Cauldron Charcoal Smelting iron Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts Bellows

Celtic Art What do these tell you about Celtic art? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Celtic Burials How did the Celts bury their dead? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Ogham Stones X, AE Ph, UI P, IA Th, OI K, EA I E U O A R Z Ng G M Q C T D H N S F L B What were ogham stones? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

Bog Bodies What are the bog bodies? Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts

FOCUS TASK Summarise Draw up a table on a page of your copybook with the heading ‘Iron Age and the Celts’. Fill in the information in short note form opposite each of the categories. IRON AGE & THE CELTS Houses Food & Family Work Tools & Weapons Art & Craft Burial customs Chapter 6 | The Iron Age and the Celts