Amplify Archaeology Podcast

By Neil JackmanSociety & Culture Science Social Sciences History Places & Travel

Amplify Archaeology Podcast episodes

October 31, 2024Community Archaeology at St Annes Park Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Community Archaeology at St Anne’s Park
Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 42 with James Kyle
Community Archaeology at St Anne’s Park
Dig into the Story in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 42 with James Kyle
A wonderful community archaeology project has been underway at St Anne’s Park in Dublin City. Excavation director James Kyle tells us all about it in this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast.
An elegant historic house, once owned by the famous Guinness Family, proudly stood in part of what is now known as St Anne’s Park. The building was destroyed by fire in the 1940s, before being completely demolished in the 1960s. However, a dynamic community archaeology project has been underway to help to uncover its story. The dig includes members of the local community who work alongside experienced archaeologists. The preservation of in-situ architectural features and deposits relating to the occupation, fire and demolition of the structure ensures the opportunity for volunteers to engage with tangible archaeological material as well as assess the phases of the structural development and ultimate demise of the house.
Now in its fourth year, the Saint Anne’s Park Community Archaeology Programme was launched in 2021 as a partnership project under the Dublin City Strategic Heritage Plan. It is a collaboration between DCC Parks Biodiversity and Landscape Services and the Archaeology and Heritage Sections of the Planning and Property Development Department. The programme is partially funded by the Heritage Council and the Creative Ireland Programme, and has been delivered by Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd, with the support of a fantastic group of community volunteers.
The archaeological director James Kyle leads us through the story of the lost house, as we discuss the practice of community archaeology, wellbeing in heritage and more. So let’s dig into the story of community archaeology in St Anne’s Park in this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast!
(all images courtesy of Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd)
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Island Pilgrimage
Duration: 50 mins.
Summary:
Hear about a fantastic community archaeology project in St Anne’s Park, Dublin.
Community Archaeology at St Anne’s Park – Key Discussion Points
Introduction to St Anne’s Park and the project – 1 min 22 secs
What could be seen of the house prior to excavation? – 5 min 20 secs
How did surviving documents and maps help the dig? – 9 min 20 secs
The dig throw up any surprises? – 10 min 01 secs
Has the dig changed people’s perception of the park? – 14 min 45 secs
Public interest in archaeology – 16 min 20 secs
The tangibility of early modern archaeology – 19 min 15 secs
The community involvement in the excavation – 21 min 06 secs
What do we mean by the ‘community’ in community archaeology, who was involved? – 26 min 20 secs
Archaeology and wellbeing – 28 mins 22 secs
How can we make archaeology more inclusive and engaging for the public? – 34 min 30 secs
Has the project changed people’s perceptions of place? – 34 min 24 secs
What’s the future of the project? – 41 min 45 secs
Show notes and links to further information
You can find information on the St Anne’s Park Community Archaeology Project on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
You can also find a short video on the project on YouTube.
Please do leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you can, or share the episode using the podcast #AmplifyArchaeology – it really does help us to be found so I’d be very grateful!
If you’d like to dig deeper into the stories of Ireland you’ll love our membership service Tuatha. You’ll find online courses like an Introduction to Irish Archaeology with Neil Jackman, another giving you the skills to dig into your own family history with an Introduction to Irish Genealogy with Tara Clarke, and examine the pivotal era of Early Medieval Ireland with Dr Sharon Greene. You’ll also find hundreds of articles on places to visit, itineraries for great days out, opportunities to join us on our monthly lecture series and on our tours, and lots more! You can learn more and sign up here. Use coupon code AMPLIFY20 for 20% off your first subscription.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
We'd love it if you'd consider sharing this episode with a friend
Episode 37 with Dr Ruth Carden & Dr Rebecca Boyd
Viking Dogs
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 34 with Dr Michael Potterton
Moynagh Lough
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 33 with Dr Daniel Curley et al
Farming Rathcroghan
Amplify Archaeology
The post Community Archaeology at St Annes Park Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
51 min
September 14, 2024Excavations at Knowth Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Excavations at Knowth
Dig into the Story of Knowth in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 41 with Dr Kerri Cleary
Excavations at Knowth
Dig into the Story of Knowth in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 41 with Dr Kerri Cleary
In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Neil chats with Dr Kerri Cleary about Professor George Eogan’s excavations at Knowth.
There are few places as deeply layered in stories as Knowth. Located in the famous bend of the Boyne like its near neighbour Newgrange, Knowth has been a place of significance for millennia. Through the Neolithic as a place of settlement and ritual, an Iron Age ancestral burial ground, an early medieval ‘royal’ residence of the kings of North Brega, and activity continued through the medieval period and onwards. Today Knowth is part of the celebrated Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site, and visited by thousands of people every year. Its complex story was uncovered in a truly monumental series of excavations led by the late Professor George Eogan. In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil chats with Dr Kerri Cleary who discusses those excavations and George’s incredible legacy in Irish archaeology, and describes the story of Knowth through time. Kerri is the co-author of a fantastic new guidebook to Knowth published by the Royal Irish Academy, that provides a wonderfully accessible introduction to this incredible archaeological complex.
The images here are all courtesy of the Royal Irish Academy.
Professor George Eogan at Knowth
Courtesy of the Knowth Archive, Royal Irish Academy
Knowth Guidebook
Knowth Guidebook, Royal Irish Academy
Sandmartins at Knowth
By Uisce Jakubczyk, Courtesy of the Royal Irish Academy
Artist's impression of the passage tomb construction phase
By Steve Doogan. Courtesy of the Royal Irish Academy
Artist's impression of the passage tomb cemetery at Knowth
By Steve Doogan. Courtesy of the Royal Irish Academy
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Excavations at Knowth
Duration: 1 hour 16 mins.
Summary:
In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Neil chats with Dr Kerri Cleary about Professor George Eogan’s excavations at Knowth.
Excavations at Knowth – Key Discussion Points
What and where is Knowth? – 2 min 14 secs
Professor George Eogan – 5 min 40 secs
Kerri’s links with Knowth – 9 min 05 secs
What was Knowth like before George started work? – 11 min 04 secs
What was the background to the excavation? – 14 min 40 secs
The experience of the excavation– 18 min 18 secs
The excavations at Knowth and Newgrange overlap, did they influence each other? – 21 min 55 secs
The chronology of Knowth, beginning with its earliest origins – 25 min 30 secs
The megalithic art at Knowth – 34 min 03 secs
Knowth in the Bronze Age – 40 min 12 secs
Knowth in the Iron Age – 44 min 15 secs
Knowth in the Early Medieval Period – 48 min 39 secs
The Mythology of Knowth – 52 min 40 secs
Knowth as part of the World Heritage Site – 57 min 20 secs
Knowth as part of the World Heritage Site – 57 min 20 secs
The Guidebook to Knowth – 1 hour 04 min 17 secs
The Knowth Macehead – 1 hour 09 min 41 secs
Show notes and links to further information
You can pick up a copy of the brilliant new guidebook from the Royal Irish Academy here.
And you can enjoy a deep dive into the details of the excavations at Knowth in the seven volume series now available Open Access on the Digital Repository of Ireland here.
Please do leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you can, or share the episode on social media using the podcast #AmplifyArchaeology – it really does help us to be found so I’d be very grateful!
If you’d like to dig deeper into the stories of Ireland you’ll love our membership service Tuatha. You’ll find online courses on Irish archaeology and heritage, articles on places to visit, itineraries for great days out (including one on the Boyne Valley featuring Knowth), opportunities to join us on our monthly lecture series and on our tours, and lots more! You can learn more and sign up here, and don’t forget to use the coupon code AMPLIFY20, to get 20% off your first subscription.
You can also purchase a gift membership to Tuatha, so if you have an archaeology aficionado in your life, or someone who loves going exploring Ireland’s ancient monuments, consider making the past their present. You can find monthly or annual vouchers here (and the coupon code works there too!).
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
Death in Irish Prehistory Part One
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 28 with Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan
The Winter Solstice at Knockroe
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 7; Lara Cassidy, Robert Hensey et al
Neolithic Mortuary Practice at Carrowkeel
Amplify Archaeology
Please help to Amplify Archaeology by sharing this podcast
The post Excavations at Knowth Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
1 hr 16 min
November 15, 2023Death in Irish Prehistory Part 2 – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Death in Irish Prehistory Part 2
Dig into the Story of Death in Irish Prehistory in Part 2 of Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
Death in Irish Prehistory Part 2
Dig into the Story of Death in Irish Prehistory in Part 2 of Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
This is the second part of an in-depth discussion with Professor Gabriel Cooney on his landmark publication – Death in Irish Prehistory.
The new publication Death in Irish Prehistory covers life and death over 8,500 years in Ireland. The book explores the richness of the mortuary record that we have for Irish prehistory (8000 BC to AD 500) as a highlight of the archaeological record for that long period of time. Because we are dealing with how people coped with death, this rich and diverse record of mortuary practice is also relevant to understanding how we deal with death today, which is just as central a social issue as it always was. Written by Professor Gabriel Cooney, and beautifully illustrated by Conor McHale, the book is a landmark publication for Irish archaeology. It is thoughtful, insightful and beautifully produced, and helps to humanise those who walked before us, some millennia ago.
In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil has an in depth discussion with the author of Death in Irish Prehistory, Professor Gabriel Cooney. In this second and final part, we take a chronological approach and look at continuity, change and belief over 8,500 years. If you haven’t heard the first part, you can find that here.
With the exception of the banner that features an aerial image of a tomb at Carrowkeel, the images here are all courtesy of the Royal Irish Academy.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Death in Prehistory Part Two
Duration: 1 hour 26 mins.
Summary:
In this second part of the discussion with Prof. Gabriel Cooney, we discuss the archaeology of death through time.
Death in Irish Prehistory Part 2 – Key Discussion Points
Death in the Mesolithic Period – 1 min 55 secs
Death in the Neolithic Period – 12 min 03 secs
Death in the Chalcolithic Period – 23 min 34 secs
Death in the Bronze Age – 29 min 00 secs
Death in the Iron Age – 51 min 02 secs
People’s connection to prehistoric mortuary sites today – 1 hour 8 min 18 secs
Show notes and links to further information
If you didn’t hear the first part, I recommend checking that out here.
Again I can’t recommend the book highly enough! You can purchase a copy here.
Please do leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you can, or share the episode using the podcast #AmplifyArchaeology – it really does help us to be found so I’d be very grateful!
If you’d like to dig deeper into the stories of Ireland you’ll love our new membership service Tuatha. You’ll find online courses on Irish archaeology and heritage, articles on places to visit (including lots of the sites discussed in this podcast), itineraries for great days out (including one on the Boyne Valley featuring a number of the megalithic tombs discussed here), opportunities to join us on our monthly lecture series and on our tours, and lots more! You can learn more and sign up here.
You can now purchase a gift membership to Tuatha, so if you have an archaeology aficionado in your life, or someone who loves going exploring Ireland’s ancient monuments, consider making the past their present. You can find monthly or annual vouchers here.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
Death in Irish Prehistory Part One
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 28 with Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan
The Winter Solstice at Knockroe
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 7; Lara Cassidy, Robert Hensey et al
Neolithic Mortuary Practice at Carrowkeel
Amplify Archaeology
Please help to Amplify Archaeology by sharing this podcast
The post Death in Irish Prehistory Part 2 – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
1 hr 27 min
November 12, 2023Death in Irish Prehistory Part 1 – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Death in Irish Prehistory Part I
Dig into the Story of Death in Irish Prehistory in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
Death in Irish Prehistory Part I
Dig into the Story of Death in Irish Prehistory in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
This is the first part of an in-depth discussion with Professor Gabriel Cooney on his landmark publication – Death in Irish Prehistory.
The new publication Death in Irish Prehistory covers life and death over 8,500 years in Ireland. The book explores the richness of the mortuary record that we have for Irish prehistory (8000 BC to AD 500) as a highlight of the archaeological record for that long period of time. Because we are dealing with how people coped with death, this rich and diverse record of mortuary practice is also relevant to understanding how we deal with death today, which is just as central a social issue as it always was. Written by Professor Gabriel Cooney, and beautifully illustrated by Conor McHale, the book is a landmark publication for Irish archaeology. It is thoughtful, insightful and beautifully produced, and helps to humanise those who walked before us, some millennia ago.
In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil has an in depth discussion with the author of Death in Irish Prehistory, Professor Gabriel Cooney. In this part, we discuss the archaeology of death, and how we know what we know. And what the types of evidence can reveal about life, death and belief in prehistoric Ireland. Don’t forget to join us for part two, where we take a chronological approach and look at continuity, change and belief over 8500 years. You can find Part Two of the discussion here.
With the exception of the banner that features an aerial image of Fourknocks Passage Tomb, the images here are all courtesy of the Royal Irish Academy.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Death in Prehistory Part One
Duration: 55 mins.
Summary:
In this first part of the discussion with Prof. Gabriel Cooney, we discuss the archaeology of death.
Death in Irish Prehistory Part 1 – Key Discussion Points
A chat about cultural relativism – 2 min 30 secs
The impetus behind the book and the way that it is structured – 9 min 30 secs
What can archaeology tell us about life and death – 13 min 34 secs
How to be an objective observer as an archaeologist – 17 min 35 secs
While archaeology can tell us about practice what can it tell us of belief? – 19 min 40 secs
The development of archaeological practice and theory in relation to prehistoric mortuary sites – 29 min 55 secs
Do we have better evidence for some periods than others? – 37 min 06 secs
Is there a danger of selection bias when it comes to the circumstances and type of sites excavated? – 40 min 05 secs
Is there an inherit bias in terms of who was buried and how? Includes discussion of survival bias – 45 min 03 secs
Show notes and links to further information
You can find Part Two of the discussion here.
I can’t recommend the book highly enough! You can purchase a copy here.
Please do leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you can, or share the episode using the podcast #AmplifyArchaeology – it really does help us to be found so I’d be very grateful!
If you’d like to dig deeper into the stories of Ireland you’ll love our new membership service Tuatha. You’ll find online courses on Irish archaeology and heritage, articles on places to visit, itineraries for great days out (including one on the Boyne Valley featuring a number of the megalithic tombs discussed here), opportunities to join us on our monthly lecture series and on our tours, and lots more! You can learn more and sign up here.
You can now purchase a gift membership to Tuatha, so if you have an archaeology aficionado in your life, or someone who loves going exploring Ireland’s ancient monuments, consider making the past their present. You can find monthly or annual vouchers here.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Episode 40 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
Death in Irish Prehistory Part Two
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 28 with Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan
The Winter Solstice at Knockroe
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 7; Lara Cassidy, Robert Hensey et al
Neolithic Mortuary Practice at Carrowkeel
Amplify Archaeology
Please help to Amplify Archaeology by sharing this podcast
The post Death in Irish Prehistory Part 1 – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
56 min
October 10, 2023Island Pilgrimage – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Island Pilgrimage: Holy Wells, Cures & Curses
Dig into the Story of Inishbofin and Inishark in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 39 with Tommy Burke and Dr Ryan Lash
Island Pilgrimage: Holy Wells, Cures & Curses
Dig into the Story of Inishbofin and Inishark in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 39 with Tommy Burke and Dr Ryan Lash
In this fascinating discussion with Tommy Burke and Dr Ryan Lash we discuss aspects of pilgrimage, faith and folklore on Inishbofin and Inishark.
The islands of Inishbofin and Inishark lie off the western coast of County Galway. They are beautiful places, though the breathtaking scenery is imbued with many stories. One of the most celebrated stories of Inishbofin is its connection to the famous St Colmán of Lindisfarne, who established a monastery here in the seventh century. Inishark is connected to the more enigmatic St Leo, and both islands have a long tradition of pilgrimage that centres around the early monastic remains found there. Though they may have began in the early medieval period, these pilgrimage traditions have adapted over the centuries, right up to the twentieth century, creating a blend of continuity and change with each generation of islanders.
This discussion with Tommy Burke and Dr Ryan Lash, looks at some of the key features of the pilgrimage landscape of the islands, and we hear about the discoveries of the research excavations that have taken place in recent years. We discuss holy wells and their origins, and folk belief around cures and curses. We also hear about the skulls taken in the 19th century from St Colmán’s Monastery, and the efforts by the local community and others in helping to secure their return after more than a century. From cures, curses, wells and wonders, this is a wide ranging chat, I hope you enjoy the episode!
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Island Pilgrimage
Duration: 1 hour 28 mins.
Summary:
In this fascinating discussion with Tommy Burke and Dr Ryan Lash we discuss aspects of pilgrimage, faith and folklore on Inishbofin and Inishark.
Island Pilgrimage – Key Discussion Points
Introduction to Inishbofin and Inishark – 2 min 13 secs
Overview of early medieval Christian aspects of the islands – 8 min 20 secs
Pilgrimage and Turas – 13 min 09 secs
Holy wells – 17 min 42 secs
Cures – 22 min 18 secs
Do Ireland’s holy wells have pagan origins? – 23 min 23 secs
Curses – 31 min 07 secs
The practice of pilgrimage – 37 min 38 secs
The response of the Catholic Church to pattern days and ‘informal’ pilgrimage – 42 min 15 secs
Island faith and practice in the absence of a priest – 49 mins 55 secs
The Haddon Project and the repatriation of human remains – 58 min
Sites at risk through climate change – 1 hour 14 min
Where can people find out more? – 1 hour 16 mins
Show notes and links to further information
You can find information on Tommy’s walking tours, including contact info for booking here.
Tommy did a really interesting interview about Inishbofin during the Covid Lockdowns, available on YouTube.
You can find a number of papers by Ryan on Academia.edu here.
And he has a recorded talk that covers a broad sweep of the research on Inishbofin and Inishark available here.
And there’s a new publication featuring a paper by Ryan: Holy Wells of Ireland: Sacred Realms and Popular Domains, available here.
I highly recommend checking out Inis Airc: Bás Oileáin – Inishark: Death of an Island. A 2007 TG4 documentary about the abandonment of Inishark directed by Inishbofin film maker Kieran Concannon. You can find it here.
And there’s a YouTube channel with short videos about Inishbofin and Inishark heritage available here.
We highly recommend you follow the Facebook page for the Inishbofin Heritage Museum.
A report by SkyNews that documented the reburial can be found here.
And an article about the repatriation campaign here.
You can read more on the visitor experience to Inishbofin here.
Please do leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you can, or share the episode using the podcast #AmplifyArchaeology – it really does help us to be found so I’d be very grateful!
If you’d like to dig deeper into the stories of Ireland you’ll love our new membership service Tuatha. You’ll find online courses on Irish archaeology and heritage, articles on places to visit, itineraries for great days out (including one on Connemara), opportunities to join us on our monthly lecture series and on our tours, and lots more! You can learn more and sign up here.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
We'd love it if you'd consider sharing this episode with a friend
Episode 37 with Dr Ruth Carden & Dr Rebecca Boyd
Viking Dogs
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 34 with Dr Michael Potterton
Moynagh Lough
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 33 with Dr Daniel Curley et al
Farming Rathcroghan
Amplify Archaeology
The post Island Pilgrimage – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
1 hr 28 min
July 08, 2023Excavations at Caherconnell Fort – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Excavations at Caherconnell Fort
Dig into the Story of a Stone Fort in the Burren in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 38 with Dr Michelle Comber
Excavations at Caherconnell Fort
Dig into the Story of a Stone Fort in the Burren in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 38 with Dr Michelle Comber
In this fascinating discussion with Dr Michelle Comber, we discuss the excavations, the wealth of archaeology in the Burren, and generational continuity at Caherconnell Fort. We also hear from some of the excavation team who tell us of their experiences.
The Burren is one of my favourite places. It’s somewhat stark and bleak appearance gives a false impression of a barren landscape, when it is anything but. The valleys and high pastures of the Burren are thronged with archaeological monuments, representing millennia of settlement from the earliest phases of prehistory to the present day. This teeming historic landscape has remained relatively unaltered in comparison to other parts of Ireland. This offers wonderful opportunities to understand the monuments themselves, as well as their local landscapes, providing a contextual and cultural understanding of people and place.
There are few better examples of this sort of study than the ongoing series of excavations at Caherconnell Fort in the heart of the Burren. The site has been investigated through a number of field schools led by Dr. Michelle Comber of the University of Galway. The townland of Caherconnell is dominated by one of the largest stone forts in the Burren, and as well as the main fort there are two smaller ones, and a number of other archaeological monuments and features ranging in date from the prehistoric to the late medieval.
In this episode of the Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil had the opportunity to chat with Michelle to hear about the site itself, the field school and the fantastic collaborative and mutually beneficial model where archaeology, farming and tourism all benefit from a better understanding and appreciation of place. I hope you enjoy the episode!
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Excavations at Caherconnell Fort
Duration: 53 mins.
Summary:
In this fascinating discussion with Dr Michelle Comber we hear about an ongoing series of excavations at Caherconnell in the Burren.
Excavations at Caherconnell Fort – Key Discussion Points
Why is the Burren so archaeologically rich? – 1 min 33 secs
An introduction to the Caherconnell Project – 5 min 52 secs
What is Caherconnell Fort and was it in use for a long time? – 10 min 00 secs
The nature of the culture of the people of Caherconnell – 18 min 47 secs
The relationship between the three stone forts of Caherconnell – 21 min 12 secs
What did the people of Caherconnell in the early medieval period think about neighbouring monuments like Poulnabrone? – 26 min 15 secs
Folklore and belief in the past – 28 min 40 secs
The field school – 31 min 42 secs
Visitors witnessing the process and history uncovered before their eyes – 37 min 01 secs
The research framework and agenda – 39 mins 05 secs
The future for Caherconnell and the tourism aspect of the site – 42 min 20 secs
The positive connections between archaeology, education, tourism and landowners – 44 min 47 secs
Field School participant Amelia Gibson – 46 mins 35 secs
Field School participant Spencer Cantham – 47 min 13 secs
Field School participant Jenny Sacher – 48 mins 21 secs
Show notes and links to further information
You can discover more about visiting Caherconnell Fort here.
You can learn more about the archaeological project at Caherconnell Fort here.
And there’s even more to dig into (sorry for the pun) here.
Keep up with the latest discoveries at Caherconnell by following them on Facebook and Twitter.
Please do leave us a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts if you can, or share the episode using the podcast #AmplifyArchaeology – it really does help us to be found so I’d be very grateful.
If you’d like to dig deeper into the stories of Ireland you’ll love our new membership service Tuatha. You’ll find online courses on Irish archaeology and heritage, articles on places to visit, itineraries for great days out (including three on the Burren alone!), opportunities to join us on our monthly lecture series and on our tours, and lots more! You can learn more and sign up here.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
We'd love it if you'd consider sharing this episode with a friend
Episode 37 with Dr Ruth Carden & Dr Rebecca Boyd
Viking Dogs
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 34 with Dr Michael Potterton
Moynagh Lough
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 33 with Dr Daniel Curley et al
Farming Rathcroghan
Amplify Archaeology
The post Excavations at Caherconnell Fort – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
53 min
June 02, 2023Viking Dogs – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Viking Dogs
Hear about a fascinating new research project in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 37 with Dr Ruth Carden & Dr Rebecca Boyd
Viking Dogs
Hear about a fascinating new research project in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 37 with Dr Ruth Carden & Dr Rebecca Boyd
In previous episodes of Amplify Archaeology, we’ve focused on what life was like for people, but what was life like for animals in the past? In this episode we’re joined by Dr Ruth Carden and Dr Rebecca Boyd, who tell us about an exciting new collaborative research project seeks to dig into the story of Viking dogs.
In this episode of the Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil was joined by Dr Ruth Carden and Dr Rebecca Boyd, who discussed their fascinating new project Viking Dublin Dogs. This collaborative, grass-roots project seeks to discover more about the life and death of Viking and Medieval Dogs in Dublin and beyond. It involves exploring the historical records for references to dogs and wolves, and the examination of the skeletal remains of dogs, radiocarbon dating, isotopic analysis and a study of their DNA. The team hope that this work will help to answer questions about the origins of dogs and their relationship with wolves, whether dogs can tell us anything about status and society, the different type of roles that dogs performed, and whether the Vikings who settled in Dublin brought their own dogs with them from their Scandinavian homelands.
This is a really exciting project, so listen in to discover how you can help to discover the story of Dublin’s viking dogs. I hope you enjoy the episode!
(all pictures below are of our barkaeologist Peig)
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Viking Dogs
Duration: 50 mins.
Summary:
Dr Ruth Carden & Dr Rebecca Boyd join us to discuss an exciting new research project.
Viking Dogs Show notes and links to further information
You can discover more about the Viking Dublin Dogs Project here.
And you can support them by visiting their dedicated CrowdFunder page here.
Keep up with the latest news from the project on Twitter.
If you’d like to hear more about Viking Ireland, check out this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast with Rebecca here.
Please do leave us a review if you can, or share the episode using the hashtag #AmplifyArchaeology – it really does help us out so I’d be very grateful!
If you’d like to dig deeper into the stories of Ireland you’ll love our membership service Tuatha. Online courses, inspiration for places to visit, itineraries for great days out and more! Sign up here, and don’t forget to enter the coupon code AMPLIFY (all uppercase) for 20% off your first subscription.
And if you’d like to keep up with all our latest news, do sign up for our free newsletter.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Episode 31 with Dr Steve Davis
Archaeological Insect Analysis
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 29 with Dr Rebecca Boyd
Viking Age Ireland
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 27 with Dr. Karen Dempsey
Relict Plants & Medieval Women
Amplify Archaeology
We'd love it if you'd consider sharing this episode with a friend
The post Viking Dogs – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
50 min
May 19, 2023Clogh Oughter Castle – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Clough Oughter Castle
Con Manning joins us to discuss the archaeology of an island fortress
Clogh Oughter Castle
Con Manning joins us to discuss the archaeology of an island fortress
In this episode, one of Ireland’s most experienced archaeologists, Con Manning, discusses the excavations at Clogh Oughter Castle. An island fortress in County Cavan.
Clogh Oughter Castle consists of a strong, circular stone tower strategically (and beautifully) positioned on a small island in the middle of Lough Oughter in County Cavan. The castle was originally constructed in the early 13th century, possibly on the site of an earlier crannóg. Throughout its turbulent history Clogh Oughter Castle has served different roles, from the guardian of the South Ulster lakelands, to a prison. In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast we chat to Con Manning who carried out excavations at the castle in the 1980s. Con is one of Ireland’s most experienced archaeologists. In his 40+ years with the National Monuments Service, he has been involved in excavations and publications on some of Ireland’s most important archaeological monuments. Con discusses a little of his background, before we turn to the history of Clogh Oughter Castle, ending with the brutal siege of the 17th century. We’ll discuss the dig, why it took place and hear about some of the key findings and how they tell a story of life and death at the castle over the centuries.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Clogh Oughter Castle
Duration: 71 mins.
Summary:
Con Manning joins us to discuss the history and archaeology of Clogh Oughter Castle, an island fortress in County Cavan
Clogh Oughter Castle, Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 36 – Show Notes
Con is the lead author of Clogh Oughter Castle, Co. Cavan: Archaeology, History and Architecture. It’s a really fantastic publication with lots of fantastic detail and images. You can find it on the Wordwell website here.
You can also learn more about the site and see an exhibition in the brilliant Cavan County Museum.
Members of Tuatha can learn more about the site and how to visit in our article here.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is sponsored by our membership subscription service: Tuatha. Our members enjoy exclusive articles on archaeology sites to visit, online courses in Irish archaeology and heritage, online talks by experts, tours and get-togethers, as well as itineraries full of fascinating archaeology to make for great roadtrips. We currently have both monthly and annual subscriptions available. Join today at tuatha.ie.
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Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Thank you for listening to this episode, and we have lots more to come this year! Please subscribe to Amplify Archaeology Podcast on your favourite platform. If you leave us a review it can really help us to be found, and we’d be very grateful if you’d consider sharing the podcast.
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The post Clogh Oughter Castle – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
1 hr 12 min
December 18, 2022A Newgrange Solstice – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
A Newgrange Solstice
Join us for this special archive edition for a Newgrange Solstice
A Newgrange Solstice
Join us for this special archive edition for a Newgrange Solstice
Join us for this special archival edition of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, to hear the story of the Newgrange Solstice with Dr Jessica Smyth, Professor Gabriel Cooney, Clare Tuffy, Dr Robert Hensey and Professor Muiris O’Sullivan.
At this time of the year, as the Winter Solstice approaches, many people think of Newgrange and its solstice alignment. Newgrange is a world heritage site, a 5,000 year old passage tomb on the banks of the River Boyne in County Meath, Ireland. Each year people gather around the tomb in celebration, while the lucky few lottery winners get to go inside to experience a truly magical event. As when the skies are clear at dawn, a golden beam of sunlight travels up the ancient passageway to illuminate the chamber.

Back in December 2020, a winter of covid restrictions and lockdowns all of those wonderful celebrations were cancelled. So I had the idea to try to tell the story of Newgrange and the experience of the solstice by interviewing the people who know the site best. We made a 5 part miniseries, each episode released in the days coming up to the solstice, featuring experts like Dr Jessica Smyth, Professor Gabriel Cooney, Dr Robert Hensey, Professor Muiris O’Sullivan, and Clare Tuffy who has experienced 30 years of solstices at Newgrange in her work for the OPW.
This podcast takes clips from those episodes to give an overview of the significance of the Newgrange Solstice, and what it might all mean. But I do recommend digging into the individual episodes as this only just scratches the surface of a truly fascinating subject.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: A Newgrange Solstice
Duration: 55 mins.
Summary:
In this special archival edition we hear all about the Newgrange Solstice from the people who know the site best
The Winter Solstice at Newgrange Podcast Miniseries by Amplify Archaeology
This episode features snippets from the five part series on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice.
Professor Muiris O’Sullivan featured in Part 1.
Dr. Jessica Smyth featured in Part 2.
Clare Tuffy featured in Part 3.
Dr. Robert Hensey featured in Part 4.
Professor Gabriel Cooney featured in Part 5.
So do be sure to catch those when you can. I’d just like to thank Gabriel, Jessica, Clare, Robert and Muiris for taking the time to talk with me. I’d also like to thank my colleague Ruth Fitzpatrick for editing this podcast. And I especially want to thank all of you for joining me on Amplify Archaeology Podcast. We have some brilliant guests already lined up for 2023, so do make sure you’re subscribed and if the Christmas spirit is upon you, please do leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify in particular. It really helps us to be found.
If you fancy getting yourself a nice Christmas present, consider joining our membership service Tuatha! Our members enjoy exclusive articles and itineraries to help them to explore, online courses events and much more – everything that anyone interested in Irish archaeology could want! We have monthly and annual options, you can learn more and sign up here.
The beautiful image of light entering the chamber used as the header and in the gallery of this page is courtesy of Brian Morrison, Fáilte Ireland
The Winter Solstice at Newgrange was live streamed back in 2020 (though there are sadly no plans to do so this year). You can watch 2020 back here (the first day was the best, though all three days were wonderful thanks to the narration of Clare Tuffy and Dr. Frank Prendergast).
For details on the opening times and more information on the Visitor Centre at the Brú na Bóinne please see the OPW website.
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Episode 16 with Dr. Jessica Smyth
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 2
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The post A Newgrange Solstice – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
55 min
November 13, 2022Moynagh Lough – Amplify Archaeology Podcast – Episode 34
Moynagh Lough
Dig into the Story of this incredible legacy project in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 34 with Dr Michael Potterton
Moynagh Lough
Dig into the Story of this incredible legacy project in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 34 with Dr Michael Potterton
Moynagh Lough is hidden away in a quiet hollow in the drumlin landscape near the village of Nobber in County Meath. From the late 19th century, hints began to emerge of it being a place of importance, but it wasn’t until the late 1970s, 80s and 90s, that the scale and complexity of Moynagh Lough came to light. Now a new project picks up the threads, to weave together the wealth of information that the site can tell us about Ireland’s past. Dr Michael Potterton joins us for a fascinating discussion about what it all might mean.
In this episode of the Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil had the opportunity to chat with Dr Michael Potterton of Maynooth University. Michael’s core field of research is the history and archaeology of medieval Ireland, with special reference to landscape and settlement. From 1996 to 1998 Michael was the Assistant Director on the excavations at Moynagh Lough.
Moynagh Lough is one of those sites that looms large in the mind of many in Irish archaeology. The first indications that it was a place of significance came in the late-19th century, when a local farmer, inspired by William Wood-Martin’s seminal writings on Lake Dwellings of Ireland, recognised some similar features in a small peninsula known locally as ‘The Island’, that was set in a little lake where he liked to fish. He recovered items like a grinding stone, a flint knife, a piece of a jet bracelet, and an ogham-inscribed piece of antler. He sent them to Wood-Martin, who identified the site as a crannóg. He was given a grant from the Royal Irish Academy to investigate the monument. However the project was short-lived and Moynagh Lough was forgotten again for nearly a century.
In the 1970s, it reemerged into the light, when a farmer who was seeking to level the small bumpy area at the edge of his field. As he spread the disturbed soil across the field, a large quantity of bone, quern stones and other clearly archaeological objects appeared. The local archaeologist, the late George Eogan, was called in and immediately identified it as a highly significant monument. As Professor Eogan was already excavating the great tomb at Knowth at the time, and as he believed the site to have been largely destroyed already, he had his assistant, a young archaeologist by the name of John Bradley, to lead what was expected to be a short rescue and recovery project. Much more of the crannóg had survived than was originally thought. Between 1980 and 1998, fourteen seasons of excavation confirmed that this was an exceptional multi-period site with rich artefactual assemblages from multiple levels and phases.
Over the years, John produced a number of reports and published several articles about the findings at Moynagh Lough, but the main excavation report remains incomplete and unpublished. When John moved to Maynooth University from UCD in 1996 the Moynagh archive moved with him. After John Bradley’s sudden passing in 2014, a collaborative project led by Michael was formed to review the archive and to take Moynagh Lough through to publication. This was especially fitting, as Michael was a volunteer, then a supervisor and finally Assistant Director of the excavations in the 1990s.
In this discussion Michael tells us of the incredible multi-phase archaeology of Moynagh Lough from the Late Mesolithic to the early medieval period, and how this collaborative project seeks to bring the equally multi-phase project to completion. It is an in-depth chat, that highlights the amazing legacy of John Bradley, George Eogan and Heather King, who all played such an important role at Moynagh Lough. It also reinforces the importance of reappraising past excavations and the wealth of information that are contained within archives, and how multi-disciplinary, collaborative efforts can bring new techniques to shed light on past projects. And more than anything else, the discussion asks the critical question:
What does it all mean?
Site tour at Moynagh Lough (Heather King 1982)
View of site tour in progress, from north-east (photograph by Heather King, 1982)
John Bradley (Thaddeus Breen, 2001)
Photograph of John Bradley at his desk in Maynooth University (photograph by Thaddeus Breen, 2001)
Recording the complex archaeology (John Bradley, 1982)
Finbar McCormick and Jamie Crone making a scale drawing of archaeological features (photograph by John Bradley, 1982)
Bone Combs from Moynagh Lough (Billy Sines, 2022)
Selection of bone comb fragments from Moynagh Lough (photographs by Billy Sines, 2022)
Bone Spindal Whorl from Moynagh Lough (Albert Glaholm, 1995)
Decorated bone spindle whorl from Moynagh Lough (photograph by Albert Glaholm, 1995)
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Moynagh Lough
Duration: 1 hour 15 mins.
Summary:
In this fascinating discussion with Dr Michael Potterton, we discuss the important legacy project of Moynagh Lough.
Moynagh Lough – Key Discussion Points
Where and what is Moynagh Lough – 2 min 15 secs
How Moynagh Lough was first discovered – 3 min 30 secs
The rediscovery of Moynagh Lough – 6 min 35 secs
The development of the project in the 1980s–1990s – 11 min 30 secs
The legacy of John Bradley and Michael’s experience working at Moynagh Lough – 15 min 10 secs
The chronology of the site – 23 min 25 secs
A discussion on crannógs – 31 min 07 secs
What sort of activity took place at the crannóg of Moynagh Lough – 36 min 32 secs
Do historical sources point toward who may have been living at Moynagh Lough? – 41 min 20 secs
The final excavation and how the new legacy project began – 43 mins 52 secs
What sort of specialist analysis is involved in this phase? – 48 min 42 secs
Does Michael have a particular favourite moment from his experience on the site? – 59 min 23 secs
Based on the evidence so far, what can Moynagh Lough tell us about life in Early Medieval Ireland? – 1 hour 3 mins 00 secs
What is the future for Moynagh Lough? – 1 hour 8 min 15 secs
Could there ever be more excavations at Moynagh Lough? – 1 hour 11 min 10 secs
Show notes and links to further information
You can see a fantastic illustrated talk by Michael for the Royal Society of Antiquaries here.
Michael is a prolific writer on Ireland. I highly recommend his books like Uncovering Medieval Trim, and his co-edited chronological series with Christiaan Corlett that showcases what recent excavations can tell us about some of they key periods in Irish Archaeology. Like The Town in Medieval Ireland: In Light of Recent Archaeological Excavations. You can find a full list of his publications here
Please do leave us a review if you can, or share the episode using the podcast #AmplifyArchaeology – it really does help us out so I’d be very grateful.
If you’d like to dig deeper into the stories of Ireland you’ll love our membership service Tuatha. Tuatha connects people to the places, landscapes and stories of Ireland with exclusive content like our full catalogue of articles, courses and itineraries. With Tuatha, you’ll receive behind the scenes access to the latest in Irish archaeological and historical research. Find our more here.
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The post Moynagh Lough – Amplify Archaeology Podcast – Episode 34 appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
1 hr 16 min