Story Archaeology

We have dug down as far as we can go in this Story Archaeology dig of Cath Maige Tuired.  We've studied the landscape, examined related stories, collected linguistic potsherds. So what are we left with?

For the last episode in "The Battle of Moytura" series, the Story Archaeologists engage in some experimental story archaeology. What if we leave out "foreign" characters? What if we only read the oldest strata of the tale? If the story is not a battle between Good Gods and Evil Demons, what kind of story is it?

Strap yourselves in as we take off into pure speculation on a Story Archaeology joyride!

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Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

In our continuing discussion of the Early Modern Irish tale, “The Fate of the Children of Tuirenn”, we send Brian and the boys off on their epic quest.  Much of this tale sounds terribly familiar  (did someone say “Labours of Heracles?"). But it all boils down to the deceptively simple task of making three shouts on a hill - will the three brothers have any chance of surviving?

As this epic "Sorrow of Irish Storytelling" serves as one of the few texts telling the story of Moytura, our discussion has been split into two full episodes.  Listen to the first episode here.

Follow with the Story Archaeologists on the greatest treasure hunt in Irish Mythology.

The text and translation we refer to can be read on archive.org: http://archive.org/details/fateofchildrenof00sociiala.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

In our continuing discussion of the Early Modern Irish tale, “The Fate of the Children of Tuirenn”, we send Brian and the boys off on their epic quest.  Much of this tale sounds terribly familiar (did someone say “Labours of Heracles?"). But it all boils down to the deceptively simple task of making three shouts on a hill - will the three brothers have any chance of surviving?

As this epic "Sorrow of Irish Storytelling" serves as one of the few texts telling the story of Moytura, our discussion has been split into two full episodes.  Listen to the first episode here.

Follow with the Story Archaeologists on the greatest treasure hunt in Irish Mythology.

The text and translation we refer to can be read on archive.org: http://archive.org/details/fateofchildrenof00sociiala.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

Jim Fitzpatrick's spectacular Lugh

In the Early Modern Irish tale, "The Fate of the Children of Tuirenn", Lugh prepares to take on the might of the Fomoire hosts, seemingly single-handed. But he will need some very special weapons for this task, along with the help of Clann Manannáin, the "Fairy Cavalcade".

As this epic "Sorrow of Irish Storytelling" serves as one of the few texts telling the story of Moytura, our discussion has been split into two full episodes.

Follow with the Story Archaeologists on the greatest treasure hunt in Irish Mythology.

The text and translation we refer to can be read on archive.org: http://archive.org/details/fateofchildrenof00sociiala.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

Jim Fitzpatrick's spectacular Lugh

In the Early Modern Irish tale, "The Fate of the Children of Tuirenn", Lugh prepares to take on the might of the Fomoire hosts, seemingly single-handed. But he will need some very special weapons for this task, along with the help of Clann Manannáin, the "Fairy Cavalcade".

As this epic "Sorrow of Irish Storytelling" serves as one of the few texts telling the story of Moytura, our discussion has been split into two full episodes.

Follow with the Story Archaeologists on the greatest treasure hunt in Irish Mythology.

The text and translation we refer to can be read on archive.org: http://archive.org/details/fateofchildrenof00sociiala.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

Photo by Martin Byrne

When we listen to stories of the Túatha Dé Danann and their exploits, it can be hard to remember that they are set in real physical locations.  Can a landscape story-archaeology survey of these sites give us a new perspective on the story?

Follow the Story Archaeologists on a virtual ramble through the West of Ireland, using a 9th century saga instead of a Sat Nav.

Some links relating to the episode

Martin Byrne - The Sacred Island: www.carrowkeel.com

Martin's page on Moytura is here.

Hogan's Onomasticon Goedelicum: publish.ucc.ie/doi/locus

Department of Archaeology, NUI Galway: www.nuigalway.ie/archaeology

Story Archaeology article about Heapstown Cairn: storyarchaeology.com/2012/08/02/heapstown-cairn-the-well-of-octriallach

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

Heapstown Cairn / Ochtriallach's Cairn

Now that we have the entire saga before us, we can take a step back and see what shapes and patterns emerge.  Is the saga a patchwork of tales with unnecessary repetition, or is there some significance to all its duplications and reflections?

Enter the realm of Experimental Story Archaeology in the first episode to view the whole story from a new angle.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

Heapstown Cairn / Ochtriallach's Cairn

Now that we have the entire saga before us, we can take a step back and see what shapes and patterns emerge.  Is the saga a patchwork of tales with unnecessary repetition, or is there some significance to all its duplications and reflections?

Enter the realm of Experimental Story Archaeology in the first episode to view the whole story from a new angle.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

"What is there about the Lightest Light and the Darkest Dark" by Iwaski

As the last sections of our saga are revealed, the overall picture of the Battle of Moytura emerges. The Morrigan, the poet and recorder of the Dé Danann, gives a raven's-eye view of the battle.

Explore some of the overlooked treasures of Cath Maige Tuired with the Story Archaeologists.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.

"What is there about the Lightest Light and the Darkest Dark" by Iwaski

As the last sections of our saga are revealed, the overall picture of the Battle of Moytura emerges. The Morrigan, the poet and recorder of the Dé Danann, gives a raven's-eye view of the battle.

Explore some of the overlooked treasures of Cath Maige Tuired with the Story Archaeologists.

Don’t forget to subscribe to get the latest posts!  Related Articles will be posted in the days to come.

Old episodes now available on archive.org.

By The Story Archaeologists.

Music: “Tam Lin” by Gian Castello.