Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

Today’s image is a small selection of bronze axes from the rather wonderful Ulster Museum. The example on the left is from Lisnisk, Co Antrim , while the one on the right is from Drumlough, Hillsborough, Co Down . The example in the middle is only located to Ireland in general. The Ulster Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays & is free! Go explore!

A hoard of five copper axes from Lough Ravel, County Antrim. Now in the Ulster Museum. I just liked the composition of the display and the prominence of the museum accession numbers ... to me they speak of the importance of collection, curation, and study - all the things a good museum facilitates and fosters. The Ulster Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays & is free! Go explore!

The entrance to the archaeological section ( i.e. the best bit) of the Ulster Museum is guarded by two Irish elk ( Megaloceros giganteus ). One is a skeleton of that iconic beast and the other is a reconstruction of what the animal most probably looked like in life. I love both of these … not just because they mark where my main interests in the museum begins … but because together they literally put flesh on the bones of an extinct animal. And, whether animal or human, isn’t that exactly what a museum should do? Go check out their web page for opening times and all related information [ here ] … it’s well worth the time and the trip! As you stop and admire the conserved skeleton and the reconstructed one (seemingly caught mid yawp) reflect on these magnificent animals that once roamed across Ireland and as far east as Siberia and China. Reflect too on the fact that my instinct led me to imagine them as producing a ‘yawp’ when, if they were anything like their m...

As part of the UK Festival of Archaeology, Dr Greer Ramsey, Curator of Archaeology, will give two illustrated talks highlighting a number of key objects from the collections. Dressed to Impress: Bronze Age Gold Jewellery Ulster Museum, Belfast Saturday 23 July 2016 12noon – 1.00pm This illustrated talk explores several stunning items of Bronze Age gold jewellery on display in the Ulster Museum. Collection highlights: Archaeological Treasures from the Ulster Museum Tuesday 9 August 2016 2.00pm – 3.00pm This illustrated talk highlights some of the most significant objects on display in the Ulster Museum. Admission is free but advance booking is advised For further information please contact 028 9044 0000 (10.00am-5.00pm Tuesday–Sunday). email: ulstermuseumreception@nmni.com To book tickets please go to www.nmni.com/um/What-s-on

For anyone interested, the Ulster Museum is hosting The Archaeology of Atlantic Crossings: Early Explorations, Trade and Migration on Saturday 7th May 2016. As noted in the poster, the day-conference is free, but advance booking is advised . It looks like it's going to be an excellent day, with a collection of great speakers!

I was hunting about today, trying to decide which of my diminishing backlog of unreleased pieces I'd publish next, when an email arrived from Greer Ramsey at the Ulster Museum [ Facebook | Website ]. He brought a short video to my attention about two pieces of Late Bronze Age gold work from Northern Ireland, purchased for the museum through the Treasure Act process. These are the  Inch Bulla  from near Downpatrick, Co. Down, and the  Corrard Torc  from Co. Fermanagh. Funding was made available from the Art Fund and The Headley Trust to help with the interpretation of material purchased by Museums under the Treasure Act. Take a look - whether you're a professional archaeologist or a non specialist there's much to enjoy here, from putting these beautiful pieces in their archaeological and cultural contexts, to just appreciating viewing them as fantastic examples of the goldsmith's art. Enjoy! Anyone wanting to find out more about Irish Bronze Age gold wor...

Aur é lien Burlot In the middle of December 2014, Robert M. Chapple posted on his blog about an upcoming day of lectures at the Ulster Museum. The title of the seminar itself was very appealing: Ireland’s Bronze Age Gold . Cannot not attract attention with such a title! On a personal note, the whole event was something I felt I had to attend, for three reasons: 1)   Despite having lived in Ireland for a decade and a half, I have never travelled ‘up North’ 2)   As I'm doing a postgraduate degree on exchanges, contacts and relations between Ireland and France during the 3 rd Millennium BC (that, of course, includes early metalwork), I could not miss such opportunity 3)   We all love prehistoric bling! The talks were set for Saturday 31 January 2015 and would take place between 1.30pm and 4.15pm. The online program detailed the different parts of the event, which included the three speakers: Greer Ramsay, keeper of the gold collection at the Ulster Museum;...