TY - BOOK
T1 - Archaeological excavations in Moneen Cave, the Burren, Co. Clare
T2 - Insights into bronze age and post-medieval life in the west of Ireland
AU - Dowd, Marion
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Archaeopress and the individual authors 2016.
PY - 2016/11/7
Y1 - 2016/11/7
N2 - In 2011, cavers exploring a little-known cave on Moneen Mountain in County Clare in the west of Ireland discovered part of a human skull, pottery and an antler implement. An archaeological excavation followed, leading to the discovery of large quantities of Bronze Age pottery, butchered animal bones and oyster shells. The material suggests that Moneen Cave was visited intermittently as a sacred place in the Bronze Age landscape. People climbed the mountain, squeezed through the small opening in the cave roof, dropped down into the chamber, and left offerings on a large boulder that dominates the internal space. The excavation also resulted in the recovery of the skeletal remains of an adolescent boy who appears to have died in the cave in the 16th or 17th century. Scientific analyses revealed he had endured periods of malnutrition and ill health, providing insight into the hardships faced by many children in post-medieval Ireland.
AB - In 2011, cavers exploring a little-known cave on Moneen Mountain in County Clare in the west of Ireland discovered part of a human skull, pottery and an antler implement. An archaeological excavation followed, leading to the discovery of large quantities of Bronze Age pottery, butchered animal bones and oyster shells. The material suggests that Moneen Cave was visited intermittently as a sacred place in the Bronze Age landscape. People climbed the mountain, squeezed through the small opening in the cave roof, dropped down into the chamber, and left offerings on a large boulder that dominates the internal space. The excavation also resulted in the recovery of the skeletal remains of an adolescent boy who appears to have died in the cave in the 16th or 17th century. Scientific analyses revealed he had endured periods of malnutrition and ill health, providing insight into the hardships faced by many children in post-medieval Ireland.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102264100&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2307/j.ctvxrq00k
DO - 10.2307/j.ctvxrq00k
M3 - Book
AN - SCOPUS:85102264100
BT - Archaeological excavations in Moneen Cave, the Burren, Co. Clare
PB - Archaeopress
ER -