Amplify Archaeology Podcast

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

Amplify Archaeology Podcast episodes

June 25, 2021 The Black Pig’s Dyke – Amplify Archaeology Podcast – Episode 24
The Black Pig's Dyke. The Original Irish Border? Dig into the Story of the Black Pig's Dyke in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 24 The Black Pig's Dyke. The Original Irish Border? Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 24 The Black Pig's Dyke is an enormous series [...]
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1 hr 16 min
May 31, 2021Cave Archaeology – Amplify Archaeology Podcast – Episode 23
Cave Archaeology
Descend into the Dark in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 23 with Dr. Marion Dowd
Cave Archaeology
Descend into the Dark in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 23 with Dr. Marion Dowd
Throughout human history, caves have been places of shelter, ritual, burial and fear. Around the world, they have acted as time capsules, preserving ancient art and sacred spaces, but what do we know of the past use of Irish caves? Join us in the Underland for a discussion on Cave Archaeology with Dr. Marion Dowd.
This episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast features a fascinating discussion with Dr. Marion Dowd. Marion is a Lecturer in Prehistoric Archaeology at IT Sligo, and Ireland’s foremost expert on cave archaeology. The dark depths of caves have loomed large in the human psyche since we evolved as a species. They have been places of shelter, inspiration, ritual and repository. They are places that unnerve us, and places that inspire us. In Europe, from at least the Upper Palaeolithic Period onwards, people ventured to the deepest and darkest parts of caves, far beyond the light of the entrance, as a place of ritual and ceremony. That’s where, in the likes of Lascaux, they created the incredible art, that utilises the contours and features of the cave to make the depictions of animals seem to come alive in the firelight.
Caves evoke our imaginations. Some of our earliest stories, like the Epic of Gilgamesh from around 1800 BC, tells the story of the hero who escaped the underworld. They feature strongly in Greek, Roman, Finnish, Inuit, Aztec and Hindu mythology. They also feature as a lair of wild beasts, or bandits like in the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Archaeology also shows that caves have a very practical aspect, they offer shelter and a constant temperature, making them ideal for storage.
In this episode of the Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Marion tells us about the practice and practicalities of cave archaeology, and how caves have been used for different purposes through time in Ireland. From ongoing tradition in the Mesolithic, places of excarnation in the Neolithic, ritual in the Bronze Age and mass burial by the Vikings, by venturing into the dark depths of caves we can shine a light on Ireland’s past.
To go into the dark with a light, is to know the light
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
And find the dark, too, blooms and sings,
And is travelled by dark feet, and dark wings.
Wendell Berry, To Know the Dark
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Cave Archaeology
Duration: 1 hour 03 mins.
Summary:
Descend into the Dark as we discuss Cave Archaeology in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 23 with Dr. Marion Dowd
Into the underland we have long placed
that which we fear and wish to lose,
and that which we love and wish to save…
Robert MacFarlane, UnderlandCave Archaeology – Key Discussion Points
What is cave archaeology, and how is it different to the regular sort of surface archaeology? – 1 min
Folklore and the physical & sensory experience in caves – 5 min 05 secs
What inspired Marion to get into the archaeology of caves? – 7 min 55 secs
What is the background to the archaeology of Ireland’s caves, what was the origin of the first investigations? – 9 min 44 secs
Are new archaeological discoveries regularly being made in Irish caves? – 12 min 51 secs
The changing use of caves, beginning with Killuragh Cave (Mesolithic) – 15 min
Knocknarea Cave (Neolithic excarnation) – 19 min 30 secs
Glencurran Cave (Bronze Age) – 24 min 33 secs
Caves as places for inspiration or contemplation – 33 min
Dunmore Cave (Vikings) – 39 mins 30 secs
Moneen Cave (16/17th century) – 46 min
The multiperiod nature of cave archaeology – 50 min 50 secs
Caves in the Irish War of Independence – 52 min 34 secs
Caves and Placenames – 55 mins 20 secs
What caves can people experience and visit today? – 56 min 19 secs
Caves as ‘Time Capsules’ – 57 min 40 secs
Show notes and links to further information
PDFs of all of Marion’s groundbreaking publications and papers can be found here.
If you wish to purchase a copy of the award-winning Archaeology of Caves in Ireland you can find a copy at O’Mahonys, or if you’re in the UK the publisher is Oxbow Books.
I also highly recommend the Archaeology of Darkness edited by Marion with Dr. Robert Hensey who has appeared in previous episodes of Amplify Archaeology on Carrowkeel, and Newgrange. You can find it here.
Marion did a great talk on the Archaeology of Sligo’s Caves for The Sligo Community Archaeology Project. You can see the video here.
And here’s another really interesting presentation on Bronze Age cave use in the Burren for Burrenbeo, you can see the video here.
There’s a great virtual tour of the incredible Lascaux Caves here.
Dunmore Cave is a great place to visit with a fascinating story. It’s located near Castlecomer in County Kilkenny. You find information here.
Back in January 2020 I was delighted to be a guest on Fin Dwyer’s fantastic Irish History Podcast where we visited Dunmore to talk about its story.
There are other great show caves to visit, like Aillwee in the Burren, Mitchelstown Caves not far from us in County Tipperary, the Marble March Caves in Fermanagh, Crag Cave in Kerry, and the beautiful Caves of Keash outside Sligo.
Another superb book on humanities experience with caves is Underland by Robert MacFarlane. It pulls the ‘deep time’ nature of caves into focus.
As I mentioned at the end of the episode, we are very nearly ready with the new service from Abarta Heritage. Do sign up to our mailing list (at the bottom of this page) to make sure you’re one of the first to see it. If you sign up you won’t get spammed at all I promise, we’ll just send info on great places to visit, news, new audioguides and insights along with special offers and a lot more too. So please do sign up for free below!
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Episode 20 with Cathy Moore & Dr. Ben Gearey
Wetland Archaeology
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 15 with Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 1
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 13 with Dr. Nora White
Ogham
Amplify Archaeology
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1 hr 4 min
May 15, 2021 Cave Archaeology – Amplify Archaeology Podcast – Episode 23
Cave Archaeology Descend into the Dark in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 23 with Dr. Marion Dowd Cave Archaeology Descend into the Dark in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 23 with Dr. Marion Dowd Throughout human history, caves have been places of shelter, ritual, burial and [...]
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1 hr 4 min
May 13, 2021Prehistoric Gold – Amplify Archaeology Podcast – Episode 22
Ireland’s Prehistoric Gold
Find all that glitters in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 22 with Mary Cahill
Ireland’s Prehistoric Gold
Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 22 with Mary Cahill
Ireland’s first Golden Age – discover the story of Ireland’s prehistoric gold and the remarkable Mooghaun Hoard in this fascinating discussion with Mary Cahill.
In around 2500 BC, the first metal objects began to be produced in Ireland. Though the periods may be known as the Copper Age and the Bronze Age, another metal takes prominence in our understanding of the culture of the period – gold. Ireland is renowned for the quantity and quality of prehistoric gold objects. And every time I visit the National Museum of Ireland’s Ór exhibition, it is a reminder of the artistry of these early metalworkers.
But beyond being a symbol of wealth and status, these stunning golden collars, bracelets and ear-spools also give us insights into the societies that created them. They can inform us about art, meaning, belief and spirituality. The earliest golden objects were often thin sheets of hammered gold, that formed stunning golden collars known as lunulae, and golden disks that may hint at solar worship. As the period progressed, the scale of the golden objects vastly increased, from thin sheet metal to elaborate gorgets, dress-fasteners, neck rings and thick gold collars. Some of these objects were hidden together in hoards, such as the famous Mooghaun Hoard that was found during railway construction in the mid-19th century.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to talk about all that glitters with Mary Cahill this week. Mary is an Adjunct Professor NUI Galway; and the former Keeper of Irish Antiquities National Museum of Ireland. Mary is an expert in prehistoric gold, and she told me all about when gold first appeared in Ireland, what those early objects tell us of the societies that created them, and the discovery of that spectacular hoard at Mooghaun. This is a wide-ranging and fascinating discussion, I hope you enjoy it!
The usual disclaimer, that due to covid, this recording was carried out over Zoom so please do forgive any little audio wobbles that might occur.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Prehistoric Gold
Duration: 1 hour 11 mins.
Summary:
Hear about Ireland’s prehistoric gold in this discussion with Mary Cahill. Mary tells us about when gold first appeared in Ireland, the likely sources for Irish gold, what the objects can tell us about the societies that created them, and the astounding tale of the Mooghaun Hoard
Ireland’s Prehistoric Gold – Key Discussion Points
Have you found any gold? – 45 secs
What is the earliest known international evidence of gold being worked? (discussion on Varna, Bulgaria) – 5 min 42 secs
Do we know the source of Ireland’s prehistoric gold – 13 mins
Does Ireland stand out for the quantity and quality of gold? – 20 min 44 secs
The reuse of gold – 22 mins 45 secs
The Mooghaun Hoard – 28 mins 54 secs
The Australian connection to the Mooghaun Hoard – 39 mins 30 secs
What can the golden objects tell us about the societies that created them? – 47 mins 24 secs
If someone was lucky enough to find a golden artefact, what should they do? – 1 hour 02 mins 30 secs
The importance and accessibility of the National Museum’s collections – 1 hour 05 mins 30 secs
Show notes and links to further information
You can find a collection of Mary’s writings on archaeology and Prehistoric Gold here.
The National Museum of Ireland have information on Ireland’s prehistoric gold here.
There’s an interesting article with lots of images about the early site at Varna, Bulgaria, here.
You can see examples of the golden discs that Mary described here.
The Coggalbeg Gold Hoard features on the 100 Objects website here.
You can also see more about the incredible Mooghaun Hoard in the 100 Objects website.
You can also see part of the Mooghaun Hoard in the British Museum website.
Dr. Greer Ramsey also has a great overview of Bronze Age gold on the National Museums of Northern Ireland website.
If you are fortunate enough to find something please call the National Museum of Ireland and ask to speak to the Duty Officer. Details here.
As I mentioned at the end of the episode, we have something very, very, very exciting in the works that should be launched before the end of May. Do sign up to our mailing list (at the bottom of this page) to make sure you’re one of the first to see it. You will also receive our Monument Monday mails, where we highlight one of our favourite ‘hidden gems’ each week, so if you’re looking for a bit of Ireland in your inbox you might enjoy it!
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Episode 6 with Dr. Neil Carlin
The Beaker People and Chalcolithic Ireland
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 14 with Maeve Sikora & Matthew Seaver
The National Museum of Ireland
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 21 with Terry O’Hagan
Archaeological Landscapes of St Patrick
Amplify Archaeology
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1 hr 12 min
March 12, 2021Archaeological Landscapes of St Patrick – Amplify Archaeology Podcast – Episode 21
The Archaeological Landscapes of St Patrick
Dig into the Story of St Patrick in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 21 with Terry O’Hagan
The Archaeological Landscapes of St Patrick
Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 21 with Terry O’Hagan
Who was St Patrick? Why is he such an important figure in Irish history? What was 5th century Ireland like? Join us for a deep dive into the archaeology of Ireland’s patron saint in this fascinating discussion with Terry O’Hagan
As St Patrick’s Day is upon us, I thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to discuss the man himself with the famous Vox Hiberionacum, Terry O’Hagan. Terry is a researcher focusing on Early Irish Christianity and Early Medieval Ireland, with a particular interest in St. Patrick. In this discussion we look at the evidence that such a figure existed, what the Ireland of the 5th century might have been like, and the evidence for pre-Christian belief. We look at the contemporary landscapes, discuss where the famous saint might actually have been, and how he escaped from captivity, only to return again to Ireland. We also discuss what those earliest days of Christianity might have been like, and how he became transformed into the super saint of legend that we all know and celebrate today.
This is a really fascinating deep dive into the subject, with some fascinating tangents on landscape archaeology, belief, hagiography and early medieval Irish politics. Thanks so much to Terry for all of his time and insights. This recording was carried out over Zoom so please do forgive any little audio wobbles that might occur.
Although this St Patrick’s Day is still shadowed by the ongoing pandemic, we want to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very happy and safe day – Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh!
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: The Archaeological Landscapes of St Patrick
Duration: 1 hour 11 mins.
Summary:
Dig into the story of St Patrick in this deep-dive discussion with Terry O’Hagan. We discuss what evidence we have of St. Patrick, the Ireland of the 5th century, and what his writings can tell us about the earliest days of Christianity in Ireland
The Archaeological Landscapes of St Patrick – Key Discussion Points
What evidence do we have that St Patrick really existed? – 1 min 18 secs
What was his background, who was he and where did he come from? – 5 min 40 secs
St Patrick was captured by a raid as a young man, do we know who was doing the raiding at the time? – 8 min 19 secs
What was Ireland like at the time he was captured, what do we know archaeologically about that period between the Iron Age and the early medieval period, how did people live? – 10 min 25 secs
What do we know about what people believed before Christianity arrived in Ireland – 16 min 57 secs
Christianisation of ‘pagan’ sites – 20 min 52 secs
Did he really mind sheep on a Mayo mountain? – 24 min 26 secs
How did he escape Ireland, and where did he leave from? – 30 min 24 secs
Why and when did St Patrick return to Ireland? – 37 min 05 secs
What do we know about the early Christian communities in Ireland? – 41 mins 42 secs
Would there have been anything archaeologically recognisable about these early communities, did they have churches at this time? – 44 min 12 secs
Do we know who these early Christians were, what strata of society etc? – 47 min 38 secs
Patrick’s potential ‘strategy’ – 50 mins 07 secs
Who was Palladius, and what was his impact on Ireland? – 50 min 25 secs
How did it end for St Patrick? – 53 mins
The transformation of the historical Patrick into ‘St Patrick’ – 54 min 44 secs
How much did it help that Patrick was an ‘outsider’ – 58 min 11 secs
What do you think the real Patrick would have made of the image we have of him today? (includes chat on St Patrick and the apocalypse). – 1 hour 59 secs
The real story of St Patrick being more dramatic than the legend – 1 hour 04 mins 2 secs
Where you can find further information on St Patrick – 1 hour 07 mins 20 secs
Show notes and links to further information
You can find Terry’s brilliant blog here: voxhib.com
The Royal Irish Academy have a wonderful resource on Patrick and his writings at confessio.ie.
Terry wrote a fantastic audiobook that digs deeper into the story of St Patrick that is brought to life by Gerry O’Brien. You can purchase a copy for just €4 here.
As I mentioned at the end of the episode, we have something very, very, very exciting in the works that should be launched before May. Do sign up to our mailing list (at the bottom of this page) to make sure you’re one of the first to see it. We’re going to be making our mailing list a weekly thing, with info on great places to visit, news, new audioguides and insights along with special offers and a lot more too. So please do sign up for free below!
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Episode 20 with Cathy Moore & Dr. Ben Gearey
Wetland Archaeology
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 15 with Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 1
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 13 with Dr. Nora White
Ogham
Amplify Archaeology
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1 hr 12 min
February 01, 2021Wetland Archaeology – Amplify Archaeology Podcast – Episode 20
Wetland Archaeology
Cathy Moore & Dr Ben Gearey discuss Ireland’s wetland archaeology in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 20
Wetland Archaeology
Cathy Moore & Dr Ben Gearey discuss Ireland’s wetland archaeology in Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 20
From ancient trackways to enigmatic bog bodies, the archaeology of Ireland’s bogs is truly remarkable. But as the industrial peat harvesters fall silent, a new threat appears. Is time finally running out for Ireland’s iconic wetland archaeology? Amplify Archaeology Podcast Episode 20
Bogs and wetlands are one of the most iconic, and characteristically Irish, landscapes. Almost 1/6th of the country is covered by bog, and it is particularly significant in the midlands. Bogs have long served a variety of functions to past and present societies, from places to gather resources like fuel, rushes and reeds or to hunt. They also have a liminal aspect, forming boundaries and dangerous places that were, and often still sadly are, treacherous to the unwary and unfortunate. They are also places of community effort, meitheal, with real intangible cultural heritage all of their own. They have inspired artists, writers and poets for centuries.
Archaeological sites in wetlands vary from wooden trackways, platforms and bridges, to fish traps and fulachta fiadh. One of the defining characteristics of wetland sites is the high quality preservation of organic remains, including human remains as we see so poignantly in the case of ‘bog bodies’. In a sense, the bogs also act as environmental time capsules, as they preserve important palaeoenvironmental material such as botanical and animal remains, and microfossils like pollen. The process of wetland archaeology allows us to investigate and reconstruct past people’s landscapes, culture, and lives in sometimes astonishing detail.
Since the mid-20th century, the increasing industrialisation of peat harvesting has created employment and prosperity for many communities, though it has led to the loss of innumerable archaeological monuments, and the bogs themselves drained and scoured into great brown deserts. Now the immense harvesters are beginning to be silenced and stilled, the bogs are to be transformed once more, some will be ‘rehabilitated’ or ‘rewetted’, others will be planted with windfarms to generate another form of power. These changes will pose more challenges to what is left of the important archaeological and cultural heritage, and it is no exaggeration to say this may be our last chance to identify, record and understand many of these wetland archaeology sites.
In this episode of Amplify Archaeology Podcast, Neil was joined for a Zoom chat with Cathy Moore and Dr. Ben Gearey. Cathy is a highly experienced wetland archaeologist and wooden finds specialist who has excavated remarkable sites such as the trackway complex Edercloon in County Longford, and Drumclay Crannog in County Fermanagh, as well as numerous others including co-directing the excavation of a beautifully preserved watermill at Kilbegly in County Roscommon with Neil. Ben is a Lecturer in Environmental Archaeology, in the Department of Archaeology at University College Cork, Ireland. He has a range of research interests, with a particular focus on the archaeological and palaeoenvironmental records of peatlands.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Wetland Archaeology
Duration: 54 mins.
Summary:
From bog bodies to ancient trackways, the archaeology of Ireland’s bogs is truly remarkable and famous around the world. But it has faced dire threat from peat extraction. Now the harvesters fall silent, another challenge looms. Is time running out for our wetland archaeology?
Episode 20 Wetland Archaeology – Show Notes
Ben is part of the WetFutures Project – a transdisciplinary approach to wetland heritage in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Ireland. You can find out more on the project website.
Both Ben and Cathy are involved in the exciting Pallasboy Project, that seeks to explore the creative process involved in the crafting of prehistoric wooden artefacts beginning with the ‘Pallasboy Vessel’, an Iron Age wooden artefact discovered in Toar Bog, Westmeath. You can find out more on the project website.
You can read about Bord na Móna’s decision to end peat harvesting in the Green News.
You can also read more about their policy to ‘rehabilitate’ or ‘rewet’ the bogs on the Bord na Móna website.
It was an early medieval penannular brooch (rather than a ringpin) that was discovered in the ashes of a fire, by a couple in 2010 in County Kerry. You can read the account in The Irish Times, also in the Irish Examiner.
You can find out more about the Kingship and Sacrifice exhibition on the National Museum of Ireland website (please note, the webpage has images of human remains).
The National Museum of Ireland also has an overview of their Bog Bodies Research Project (please note, the webpage has images of human remains).
Wherever possible I try to link to Irish bookshops rather than the online giants, but as both Cathy and Ben indicated there aren’t many recent publications on Irish wetland archaeology and those that there were are either out of print, or down to the last copy or two. There appears to be a rare copy of the Bog Body of Tumbeagh available from Mayo Books.
I’ve only managed to find one copy of The Mill at Kilbegly by myself (Neil Jackman) with Cathy Moore and Colin Rynne. It’s listed as available in Alan Hanna’s bookshop, Dublin.
However thanks to Transport Infrastructure Ireland an overview of the excavation at Kilbegly has been made available free to download on the Digital Repository of Ireland.
You can also find an overview of Cathy’s remarkable excavations at the trackway complex at Edercloon on the Digital Repository of Ireland.
The important report: ‘A Review of Archaeological Survey and Mitigation Policy Relating to Bord na Móna Peatlands Since 1990′ prepared by Dr Benjamin Gearey, Dr Nóra Bermingham, Caitríona Moore and Professor Robert Van de Noort is available on the National Monuments Service website.
You can hear more from Cathy in this great interview on the Broad Leaf Podcast.
Fin Dwyer of the excellent Irish History Podcast has a really interesting miniseries on one of the most remarkable bog bodies – hear the Road to Old Croghan here.
Finally, you can hear the story of a community that was originally founded on Bord na Móna works at Lough Boora in County Offaly, with our free Kilcormac Heritage Trail audio guide.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast
During this podcast series we will meet some of Ireland’s archaeologists to discuss the key periods, places and people that tell the story of Ireland, and we’ll gain new insights into the practice and techniques of modern Irish archaeology. This is the twentieth instalment of Amplify Archaeology, previous episodes have featured a miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice, discussions on excavations at Kilkenny Castle, the Rock of Cashel and Glendalough. We’ve also looked at Ogham, Digital Heritage, Conflict Archaeology, Living History, the Beaker People, History of Food, Passage Tombs, Castles, Mesolithic Ireland and more!
I’d love some feedback, so please do leave a comment below – and if you have any questions about Irish archaeology please do let me know, we can try to answer them in forthcoming episodes. Finally if you enjoyed this podcast I’d be really grateful if you could leave us a review on iTunes, or please share it and tell your friends.
The podcast is an Abarta Heritage production. Due to the ongoing COVID pandemic it was recorded over Zoom with Neil Jackman (the interviewer) Cathy Moore and Dr. Ben Gearey. We are really grateful to Cathy and Ben for their generosity and insights.
….’Our pioneers keep striking
Inwards and downwards,
Every layer they strip
Seems camped on before.
The bogholes might be Atlantic seepage.
The wet centre is bottomless.’
Seamus Heaney, Extract from the poem 'Bogland' for T. P. Flanagan, from 'Door into the Dark' (1969).
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Episode 21 with Terry O’Hagan
Archaeological Landscapes of St Patrick
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 14 with Maeve Sikora & Matthew Seaver
The National Museum of Ireland
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 12 with Dr. Damian Shiels
Conflict Archaeology
Amplify Archaeology
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54 min
December 22, 2020Newgrange Winter Solstice with Gabriel Cooney – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Newgrange and the Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland
Prof. Gabriel Cooney joins us for Part 5 of our miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice
Newgrange and the Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland
Prof. Gabriel Cooney joins us for Part 5 of our miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice
Join us for Part 5 of our miniseries on Newgrange, the Winter Solstice and the Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland with Professor Gabriel Cooney
The great passage tomb of Newgrange in the Boyne Valley of County Meath, is one of Ireland’s most iconic monuments. Today it is a World Heritage Site, and (on a normal year) it is one of our most visited monuments, with people from all over the world travelling to see this marvel of Neolithic engineering and belief. As the Winter Solstice is upon us, Newgrange takes on even more meaning, as it is aligned with the midwinter solstice. On a clear dawn on the 20th, 21st and 22nd December, a beam of light from the rising sun travels up the passageway to illuminate the chamber. Each year people gather in great numbers around the monument to celebrate this phenomenon, and lucky lottery winners get the ultimate prize of being inside the chamber to witness it first hand. However, this year, if it shines the light will pass unseen by human eyes. The pandemic that has taken so much, has also meant that the gathering for 2020 has been cancelled.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss Newgrange with some of the experts who know the site intimately. As a way of casting another kind of light on our iconic monument. This is the final episode of a miniseries focusing on Newgrange. In this edition Neil was joined by Professor Gabriel Cooney, one of Ireland’s foremost experts on the Neolithic and chairperson of the Research Committee of the Bru na Boinne World Heritage Site. In the podcast we discuss many aspects of Newgrange and the winter solstice, along with its landscape context, Neolithic society in Ireland and what Newgrange can tell us about the connections between Ireland and Europe.
Winter Solstice at Newgrange Podcast Miniseries by Amplify Archaeology
This is the final episode of a 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.
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. They’ve given me so much to think about. And I want to thank all of you for joining me on the journey so far, we’re nearly there with this long and difficult year. So let’s take the last step together as we search for light at the end of the tunnel, at Newgrange.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Winter Solstice at Newgrange Podcast Miniseries Part 5
Duration: 53 mins.
Summary:
Professor Gabriel Cooney joins us for Part 5 of our podcast miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice, to discuss the Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland
Newgrange, the Winter Solstice and the Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland Part 5 – Show Notes
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
Professor Cooney has written extensively on the Neolithic and Irish prehistory. You can find a list of all his works here.
Gabriel recently co-edited the fascinating Cultures of Stone for Sidestone Press that establishes a rich cross-disciplinary dialogue about the significance of stone in society across time and space.
His publication Landscapes of Neolithic Ireland may be a few years old now, but it’s still one of the most comprehensive and accessible accounts into this fascinating period.
You may also be interested in the latest Wordwell Publication: Pathways to the Cosmos: The Alignment of Megalithic Tombs in Ireland, Britain and Atlantic Europe.
Professor Muiris O’Sullivan featured in Part 1 of our miniseries on Newgrange.
Dr. Jessica Smyth featured in Part 2.
Clare Tuffy featured in Part 3.
Dr. Robert Hensey featured in Part 4.
The Winter Solstice at Newgrange was live streamed and you can watch it 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.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast
This is the final part of a five episode miniseries focusing on Newgrange, the Winter Solstice and Neolithic Ireland. Please subscribe to Amplify Archaeology Podcast on your favourite platform. If you leave us a review it can really help us to be found, so we’d be very grateful if you’d consider sharing the podcast.
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Episode 18 with Dr. Robert Hensey
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 4
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 17 with Clare Tuffy
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 3
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 16 with Dr. Jessica Smyth
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 2
Amplify Archaeology
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53 min
December 21, 2020First Light at Newgrange with Robert Hensey – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Winter Solstice First Light at Newgrange
Dr. Robert Hensey joins us for Part 4 of our miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice First Light at Newgrange
Dr. Robert Hensey joins us for Part 4 of our miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice
The metaphorical darkness begins to lift as we see the first light of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange, in Part 4 of our miniseries on Newgrange we meet Dr. Robert Hensey for a wide-ranging discussion on the motivations of the builders and communication across time and space.
The great passage tomb of Newgrange in the Boyne Valley of County Meath, is one of Ireland’s most iconic monuments. Today it is a World Heritage Site, and (on a normal year) it is one of our most visited monuments, with people from all over the world travelling to see this marvel of Neolithic engineering and belief. As the Winter Solstice is upon us, Newgrange takes on even more meaning, as it is aligned with the midwinter solstice. On a clear dawn on the 20th, 21st and 22nd December, a beam of light from the rising sun travels up the passageway to illuminate the chamber. Each year people gather in great numbers around the monument to celebrate this phenomenon, and lucky lottery winners get the ultimate prize of being inside the chamber to witness it first hand. However, this year, if it shines the light will pass unseen by human eyes. The pandemic that has taken so much, has also meant that the gathering for 2020 has been cancelled.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss Newgrange with some of the experts who know the site intimately. As a way of casting another kind of light on our iconic monument. In this fourth episode of our miniseries focusing on Newgrange, I was joined by Dr. Robert Hensey, author of the excellent book: First Light: The Origins of Newgrange. We had a wide ranging discussion about the concept of time, the process of understanding, megalithic art, light and darkness, communication across time and space and what the celebrations at Newgrange might have been like.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Winter Solstice at Newgrange Podcast Miniseries Part 4
Duration: 38 mins.
Summary:
Dr. Robert Hensey joins us for Part 4 of our podcast miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice, to discuss motivations, beliefs, communication and time in Neolithic Ireland
First Light at Newgrange at the Winter Solstice Part 4 – Show Notes
You can find Dr Robert Hensey’s author page here.
Robert is the author of First Light: The Origins of Newgrange. A deeply thoughtful, but highly accessible, discussion on Newgrange and Ireland’s passage tomb tradition. I highly recommend it!
Robert is also involved in Sligo Neolithic Landscapes a group that seeks to better understand and protect the remarkable Neolithic landscapes and monuments in County Sligo. I highly recommend giving them a follow on Twitter.
You can hear Robert in a remarkable discussion on Carrowkeel in Episode 7 of Amplify Archaeology.
Part 1 of our Newgrange and the Winter Solstice featured Professor Muiris O’Sullivan.
Part 2 of our Newgrange and the Winter Solstice featured Dr. Jessica Smyth.
Part 3 of our Newgrange and the Winter Solstice featured Clare Tuffy.
Part 5 of our Newgrange and the Winter Solstice featured Professor Gabriel Cooney.
The Winter Solstice at Newgrange is being livestreamed this year, you can watch it here.
For details on the opening times and more information on the Visitor Centre at the Brú na Bóinne please see the OPW website.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast
This is the fourth part of a five episode miniseries focusing on Newgrange, the Winter Solstice and Neolithic Ireland. Please subscribe to Amplify Archaeology Podcast on your favourite platform to ensure you don’t miss a thing. If you leave us a review it can really help us to be found, so we’d be very grateful if you’d consider sharing the podcast.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Episode 19 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 5
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 17 with Clare Tuffy
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 3
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 16 with Dr. Jessica Smyth
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 2
Amplify Archaeology
Please help to Amplify Archaeology by sharing this podcast
The post First Light at Newgrange with Robert Hensey – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
38 min
December 20, 2020Winter Solstice at Newgrange with Clare Tuffy – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Winter Solstice at Newgrange
Clare Tuffy joins us for Part 3 of our miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice at Newgrange
Clare Tuffy joins us for Part 3 of our miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice
In Part 3 of our miniseries on Newgrange we meet Dr. Clare Tuffy who describes her 30 years at the Brú na Bóinne, and the experience of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange.
The great passage tomb of Newgrange in the Boyne Valley of County Meath, is one of Ireland’s most iconic monuments. Today it is a World Heritage Site, and (on a normal year) it is one of our most visited monuments, with people from all over the world travelling to see this marvel of Neolithic engineering and belief. As the Winter Solstice is upon us, Newgrange takes on even more meaning, as it is aligned with the midwinter solstice. On a clear dawn on the 20th, 21st and 22nd December, a beam of light from the rising sun travels up the passageway to illuminate the chamber. Each year people gather in great numbers around the monument to celebrate this phenomenon, and lucky lottery winners get the ultimate prize of being inside the chamber to witness it first hand. However, this year, if it shines the light will pass unseen by human eyes. The pandemic that has taken so much, has also meant that the gathering for 2020 has been cancelled.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss Newgrange with some of the experts who know the site intimately. As a way of casting another kind of light on our iconic monument. This is the third episode of a miniseries focusing on Newgrange. In this edition Neil was joined by Dr. Clare Tuffy of the Office of Public Works. Clare has worked at Newgrange for over 30 years, and we discuss her incredible experience at the site and how Newgrange has changed over the years, what it’s like to manage a World Heritage Site, and the magic of the Winter Solstice at Newgrange.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Winter Solstice at Newgrange Podcast Miniseries Part 3
Duration: 30 mins.
Summary:
Clare Tuffy of the OPW joins us for Part 3 of our podcast miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice, to discuss her 30 years experience at Newgrange and what it’s like, when the light first appears at the Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice at Newgrange Part 3 – Show Notes
The Winter Solstice at Newgrange is being livestreamed this year, you can watch it here.
For details on the opening times and more information on the Visitor Centre at the Brú na Bóinne please see the OPW website.
You can hear Part 1 with Professor Muiris O’Sullivan here.
You can hear Part 2 with Dr. Jessica Smyth here.
You can hear Part 4 with Dr. Robert Hensey here.
You can hear Part 5 with Professor Gabriel Cooney here.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast
This is the third part of a five episode miniseries focusing on Newgrange, the Winter Solstice and Neolithic Ireland. Please subscribe to Amplify Archaeology Podcast on your favourite platform to ensure you don’t miss a thing. If you leave us a review it can really help us to be found, so we’d be very grateful if you’d consider sharing the podcast.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Episode 19 with Prof. Gabriel Cooney
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 5
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 18 with Dr. Robert Hensey
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 4
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 16 with Dr. Jessica Smyth
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 2
Amplify Archaeology
Please help to Amplify Archaeology by sharing this podcast
The post Winter Solstice at Newgrange with Clare Tuffy – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
30 min
December 19, 2020Newgrange & Neolithic Ireland with Jessica Smyth – Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Newgrange and Neolithic Ireland
Dr. Jessica Smyth joins us for Part 2 of our miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice
Newgrange and Neolithic Ireland
Dr. Jessica Smyth joins us for Part 2 of our miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice
In Part 2 of our miniseries we’re joined by Dr. Jessica Smyth who casts more light on Newgrange and Neolithic Ireland
The great passage tomb of Newgrange in the Boyne Valley of County Meath, is one of Ireland’s most iconic monuments. Today it is a World Heritage Site, and (on a normal year) it is one of our most visited monuments, with people from all over the world travelling to see this marvel of Neolithic engineering and belief. As the Winter Solstice is upon us, Newgrange takes on even more meaning, as it is aligned with the midwinter solstice. On a clear dawn on the 20th, 21st and 22nd December, a beam of light from the rising sun travels up the passageway to illuminate the chamber. Each year people gather in great numbers around the monument to celebrate this phenomenon, and lucky lottery winners get the ultimate prize of being inside the chamber to witness it first hand. However, this year, if it shines the light will pass unseen by human eyes. The pandemic that has taken so much, has also meant that the gathering for 2020 has been cancelled.
I thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss Newgrange with some of the experts who know the site intimately, as a way of casting another kind of light on our iconic monument. This is the second episode of a miniseries focusing on Newgrange. In this edition I was joined by Dr Jessica Smyth of UCD School of Archaeology. We discussed Jessica’s exciting project Passage Tomb People, her first impressions of Newgrange and how that has changed over the years, daily life in Neolithic Ireland, prehistoric landscapes and the value of archives.
Given the restrictions we recorded the discussion over Zoom, so please forgive the audio quality if it is a bit off. This is the second part of a five part miniseries. But for now, join us, as we try to see the light at the end of the tunnel at Newgrange.
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
AMPLIFY ARCHAEOLOGY PODCAST
Title: Winter Solstice at Newgrange Podcast Miniseries Part 2
Duration: 28 mins.
Summary:
Dr. Jessica Smyth joins us for Part 2 of our podcast miniseries on Newgrange and the Winter Solstice, to discuss Newgrange and life in Neolithic Ireland
Neolithic Ireland, Newgrange and the Winter Solstice Part 2 – Show Notes
The beautiful image of light entering the chamber and the large stone bowl in the gallery of this page is courtesy of Brian Morrison, Fáilte Ireland
Don’t forget to catch the first episode of the Newgrange Winter Solstice series here.
You can hear Part 3 of our Newgrange and the Winter Solstice Series with Clare Tuffy here.
Part 4 of our Newgrange and the Winter Solstice Series featured Dr. Robert Hensey, and you can hear that here.
Part 5 of our Newgrange series featured Professor Gabriel Cooney and you can hear that here.
You can hear more from Jessica on the previous Amplify Archaeology episode on Passage Tombs here.
You can find out more about Jessica’s fascinating project on the Passage Tomb People Website.
The Winter Solstice at Newgrange is being livestreamed this year, you can watch it here.
For details on the opening times and more information on the Visitor Centre at the Brú na Bóinne please see the OPW website.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast
This is the second part of a five episode miniseries focusing on Newgrange, the Winter Solstice and Neolithic Ireland. Please subscribe to Amplify Archaeology Podcast on your favourite platform to ensure you don’t miss a thing. If you leave us a review it can really help us to be found, so we’d be very grateful if you’d consider sharing the podcast.
Amplify Archaeology Podcast is also available on
Dig into more stories with Amplify Archaeology Podcast
Episode 18 with Dr. Robert Hensey
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 4
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 17 with Clare Tuffy
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 3
Amplify Archaeology
Episode 15 with Prof. Muiris O’Sullivan
Newgrange Podcast Miniseries; Part 1
Amplify Archaeology
Please help to Amplify Archaeology by sharing this podcast
The post Newgrange & Neolithic Ireland with Jessica Smyth – Amplify Archaeology Podcast appeared first on Abarta Heritage Home.
28 min