Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

I recently became aware that I had a couple of gaps in my collection of Emania, The Bulletin of the Navan Research Group. I promptly popped along to the http://www.curach-bhan.com website and they were soon in my possession. Today's post is a shameless plug for this great Journal and the hard work that Curach Bhán publications do to bring it together. Go on - have a look at their website, browse their wares, order a couple of volumes! If you want to see independent journals & their publishers* survive you've got to support them. Emania – Bulletin of the Navan Research Group 22, 2014 Ranke de Vries: The Ulster Cycle in the Netherlands J.P. Mallory and Gina Baban: Excavations in Haughey’s Fort East Meriel McClatchie: Food Production in the Bronze Age: Analysis of Plant Macro-remains from Haughey’s Fort, Co. Armagh Gina Baban: Late Bronze Age Pottery from the Excavations at Haughey’s Fort East Dirk Brandherm: Late Bronze Age casting debris and other base metal...

In a previous post , I spoke about the rather wonderful silver replica of the Ark of the Covenant housed in the museum at the Grand lodge of Ireland, Molesworth Street, Dublin. In between engagements gracing the altar at meetings of Grand Lodge, the model is on display on the bottom shelf of the cabinet in the far wall of the museum. I mention this because I have frequently visited the museum and gazed upon the beauty of this piece, but have failed to notice some of the other pieces in the same cabinet. In particular, on the topmost shelf there is a delightful collection of silver gilt pieces that should be of interest to both archaeologists and Freemasons. The three pieces – two chalices and a drinking horn – were made by William Stokes in Dublin in 1909. They were intended to be used in the consecration of new Lodges. The museum’s information card indicates that the chalices were influenced by the Ardagh Chalice (now housed just around the corner in the National Museum of Irela...

Books ( Source ) Hello and welcome back to the 12th installment of my series on what’s interesting and worth a read in (mostly) Irish archaeology. But first, go check out Stuart Rathbone’s new book Archaeological Boundaries. Discussions, Experiments and Unprovoked Attacks . It’s brilliant and I think it’s one of the most important books on Irish archaeology ever published. Go take a look and then come back for a gander at these! Philip Macdonald The Road From Drumclay Clare Downham The break up of Dál Riata and the rise of Gallgoídil Jessica Smyth Tides of Change? The House through the Irish Neolithic Eamonn Kelly Objects Found in the Vicinity of a Holy Well at Bellewstown, Co. Meath Eamonn Kelly Antiquities from Irish holy wells and their wider context Catherine Swift John O'Donovan and Thomas le Keu - preliminary comments on processes of Anglicisation of Irish surnames Catherine Swift Celtic berserkers and feeble steersmen: Hiberno-Scan...

We’re in the last days of 2015 and I just wanted to take a moment to say a sincere Thank You to everyone who has read and supported this blog over the last year. I enjoy writing for this blog, but there would be little point in continuing if there were no readers. So, thank you all for bearing with me and supporting my work. Going by the numbers, the following have been the ten most read pieces from the last 12 months. Inevitably, the crannog at Drumclay figures prominently, with two entries on the list. I'm afraid that this will be the case for 2016 too as there is much work to be done to secure answers and positive change from Government departments that seem more keen on pretending that all is well (who would have guessed it?). Thankfully, the rest of the list covers a broad selection of topics from aspects of data analysis (Ashley Madison & company accounts) to lightweight photo-essays (The Floral Hall & Poulnabrone), along with my IR&DD research pro...

If you’re in any way involved in archaeology you’ve probably already been bombarded by advertising and publicity surrounding The British Museum’s latest blockbuster exhibition Celts: art and identity . I studied Celtic Art (Capital C, Capital A) many years ago as part of my undergraduate degree at UCG (now NUIG ). While I loved the art and the artistry, I never really developed my interests in the field and my attention instead settled on ringforts, excavation, and radiocarbon dates. One way or another, when I heard that this show was coming to the British Museum, I decided that it was something that I really did not want to miss. It has been described as “ the first major British exhibition in 40 years to tell the story of the Celts ” … basically, if you have any interest in the Celts and Celtic art this show is for you. What’s not to like? Cauldron, Gundestrup, Jutland, Denmark (c. 150-50 BC) Well … I suppose the first thing to state clearly is that I really loved the...

Are you an archaeologist (current, former … recovering?) who lived and worked through the global recession from 2008 onwards? If so Rachel Flynn would appreciate your help. Rachel is an MSc student at the University of Ulster, carrying out research into the ‘lost generation’ of Irish archaeologists who, like me, were deeply affected by the impact of the recession on our lives and careers. I think that this is a project of the greatest importance to the story of how commercial archaeology was practiced in this time and how it – and we as individuals – has fared since. I’d be very grateful if you could take the time to answer her questionnaire and give your insights and perspectives. I will admit that I found it difficult to answer some of the questions and a number of painful, butter memories resurfaced … but I still believe that it is a worthwhile undertaking So, please, take the time and respond! If you’re particularly brave, please contact Rachel – she’s looking for volunte...

Hello again and welcome! I'm delighted to present Julien Farveau, a student at the University of Calgary, as the latest entrant in the The 2014 Bob Chapple Archaeological Essay Prize in association with Wordwell Books . In this piece, Julien assesses the settlement evidence from the Irish Iron Age - it's well worth a read. On the other hand, if you think you can do better, please take a look at the entry criteria [ here ] and consider sending an entry of your own. I look forward to reading them! Robert M Chapple *           *           * Iron Age Ireland:  Critically Assessing the Apparent Dearth in Settlement Evidence Julien Favreau, University of Calgary Abstract The apparent absence of domestic settlements dating to the Iron Age in Ireland is critically assessed with several lines of inquiry. While many Iron Age ‘royal sites’ have been analyzed, it was not until recently that researchers seemed to consider ...