Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-18T21:19:14.422Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Neolithic houses in Ireland: a broader perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Eoin Grogan*
Affiliation:
The Discovery Programme, 34 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2, Ireland

Extract

Introduction

Over 90 structures have been identified as probable houses dating to the Neolithic period in Ireland (Grogan 2996; Cooney 1999; FIGURE 1; TABLES 1- 3). While there is a considerable variation in size and form two principal types are discernible, the large rectangular buildings of the Early Neolithic and circular or oval structures that have a much wider chronological span. In the past some of these have been readily accepted as houses while other, generally more ephemeral, structures havc occasionally been classified as having more temporary or specialist functions

Type
Special section: Archaeology in Ireland
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anon, . 2000. Spectacular evidence for Neolithic at Derry development site, Archaeology Ireland 53: 5.Google Scholar
Apsimon, A. 1976. Ballynagilly at the beginning and end of the Irish Neolithic, in De Laet, S.J. (ed.), Acculturation and continuity in Atlantic Europe: 1538. Brugge. Dissertationen Archaeologicae Gandenses.Google Scholar
Benctsson, H. & Berch, S.. 1984. The hut sites on Knocknarea Mountain, in Burenhull, G.. The Archaeologyof’ Carrowmonr. environmental archaeology and the megalithic tradition at Carrowmore: Co. Sligo, Ireland: 216318. Stockholm: Institute of Archaeology, University of Stockholm. Theses and Papers in North-European Archaeology 14.Google Scholar
Bennett, I. (ed.). 2000. Excavations 1999. Dublin: Wordweli/Duchás.Google Scholar
Bergh, S. 1995. Landscape of the Monuments. A study of the passage tombs in the Gúil Irra region. Stockholm: Riksantikvarieämbetet Arkeologiska undersökningar.Google Scholar
Bergh, S. 2000. Transforming Knocknarea — the archaeology of a mountain, Archaeology Ireland 52: 1418.Google Scholar
Byrnes, E. 2000. Richardstown, Co. Louth, in Bennett, (ed.): 221–2.Google Scholar
Case, H.J. 1973. A ritual site in northeast Ireland, in Daniel, G. & Kjaerum, P. (ed.), Megalithic graves and ritual: 173–96. Moesgård: Jutland Archaeological Society.Google Scholar
Caulfield, S. 1983. The Neolithic settlement of North Connaught, in Reeves-Smith, T. & Hamond, F. (ed.), Landscape archaeology in Ireland: 195215. Oxford: British Archaeological Reports. International series S116.Google Scholar
Caulfield, S. 1988. Céide Fields and Belderrig Guide. Killala: Morrigan Rook Co.Google Scholar
Cooney, G. 1987. North Leinster in the earlier prehistoric period. Unpublished Ph.D thesis, National University of Ireland.Google Scholar
Cooney, G. 1990. The place of megalithic tomb cemeteries in Ireland, Antiquity 64: 741–53.Google Scholar
Cooney, G. 1999. A boom in Neolithic houses, Archaeology Ireland 47: 1314.Google Scholar
Cooney, G. 2000. Landscapes of the Irish Neolithic. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Cooney, G. & Grogan, E.. 1994. Irish prehistory, a social perspective. Dublin: Wordwell.Google Scholar
Corlett, C. 2001. Prehistoric life in the fast lane, Archaeology Ireland 55: 4.Google Scholar
Cross, S. 2001. Competitive feasting in the Neolithic, Archaeology Ireland 55: 1113.Google Scholar
Crothers, N. 1996. Ballyharry’s game, Archaeology Ireland 38: 1214.Google Scholar
Darvill, T. 1996. Neolithic buildings in England, Wales and the Isle of Man, in Darvill, & Thomas, (ed.): 77111.Google Scholar
Darvill, T. & Thomas, J. (ed.). 1996. Neolithic houses in Northwest Europe and beyond. Oxford: Oxbow. Monograph 57/ Neolithic Studies Croup Seminar Papers 1.Google Scholar
Davies, O. 1936. Excavations at Dún Rúadh, Proceedings and Reports of the Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society 1: 5075.Google Scholar
Davies, O. 1949. Excavations at the Horned Cairn of Ballymarlagh, Co. Antrim, Ulster journal of Archaeology 12: 2642.Google Scholar
Doody, M. 2000. Bronze Age houses in Ireland, in Desmond, A. et al. (ed.), New agendas in Irish prehistory. Papers in commemoration of Liz Anderson: 135–59. Bray: Wordwell.Google Scholar
Dunne, C. 2001. Neolithic structure atDrummenny Lower, Co. Donegal, in Neolithic Settlement in Ireland and Western Britain. Belfast: Prehistoric Society/School of Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast. Unpublished Conference Summaries, Belfast 2001.Google Scholar
Dunne, L. & Kiely, J.. 1999. Cloghers, Tralee, Archaeology Ireland 47: 14.Google Scholar
Eogan, G. 1963. A Neolithic habitation-site and megalithic tomb in Townleyhall Townland, Co. Louth, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 93 (1963): 3781.Google Scholar
Eogan, G. 1984. Excavations at Knowth 1. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy Monographs in Archaeology.Google Scholar
Eogan, G. & Roche, H.. 1997. Excavations at Knowth 2. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy Monographs in Archaeology.Google Scholar
Eogan, G. 1998. Further evidence for Neolithic habitation at Knowth, Co. Meath, Ríocht na Midhe 9(4): 19.Google Scholar
Evans, E.E. 1939. Excavations at Camanbane, County Londonderry: A double horned cairn, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 45C: 112.Google Scholar
Evans, E.E. 1953. Lyles Hill: A Late Neolithic site in County Antrim. Belfast: HMSO. Archaeological Research Publications 2.Google Scholar
Gowen, M. 1988. Three Irish gas pipelines: new archaeological evidence in Munster. Dublin: Wordwell.Google Scholar
Gowen, M. & Halpin, E.. 1992. A Neolithic house at Newtown, Archaeology Ireland 20: 25—7.Google Scholar
Gowen, M. & Tarbett, C.. 1988. A third season at Tankardstown, Archaeology Ireland 8: 156.Google Scholar
Grogan, E. 1980. Houses of the Neolithic period in Ireland and comparative sites in Britain and on the Continent. Unpublished MA thesis, National University of Ireland.Google Scholar
Grogan, E. 1996. Neolithic houses in Ireland, in Darvill, & Thomas, (ed.): 4160.Google Scholar
Grogan, E. 1989. Settlement and society in north Munster during the Neolithic and Earlier Bronze Age. Unpublished Ph.D thesis, National University of Ireland.Google Scholar
Grogan, E. & Eogan, G.. 1987. Lough Gur excavations by Seán P. Ó Ríordáin: further Neolithic and Beaker habitations on Knockadoon, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 87C: 299506.Google Scholar
Hartnett, P.J. & Eogan, G.. 1964. Feltrim Hill, Co. Dublin.: A Neolithic and Early Christian Site, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 94: 137.Google Scholar
Jones, C. 1998. The discovery and dating of the prehistoric landscape of Roughan Hill in Co. Clare, Journal of Irish Archaeology 9: 2744.Google Scholar
Klely, J. 1999. Gloghers, Tralee, Co. Kerry, in Bennett, I. (ed.), Excavations 1998: 97. Dublin: Wordwell/Duchás.Google Scholar
Liversage, G.D. 1960. A Neolithic site at Townleyhall, Co. Louth, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 90: 4960.Google Scholar
Liversage, G.D. 1968. Excavations at Dalkey Island, Co. Dublin, 1956–1959, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 66C: 53233.Google Scholar
Logue, P. 2001. A Neolithic settlement at Thornhill, Co. Londonderry, Neolithic Settlement in Ireland and Western Britain, The Prehistoric Society/School of Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University, Belfast, Unpublished Conference Summaries, Belfast 2001.Google Scholar
Mallory, J. & Hartwell, B.. 1984. Donegore Hill, Current Archaeology 92: 271–4.Google Scholar
Mcmanus, C. 1999. Possible Neolithic house at Inch, Downpatrick, Co. Down, Archaeology Ireland 47: 16.Google Scholar
Mcmanus, C. 1999. The Neolithic house at Enagh, Co. Derry, Archaeology Ireland 47: 16.Google Scholar
Mcmanus, C. 2001. A Neolithic structure at Enagh, Co. Derry, in Armit, I. et al. (eds) Neolithic Settlement in Ireland and Western Britain, The Prehistoric Society/School of Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University, Belfast, Unpublished Conference Summaries, Belfast 2001.Google Scholar
Mogey, J.M. 1941. The Druid Stone, Ballintoy, Co. Antrim, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 4: 4956.Google Scholar
O’Drisceoil, C. 2000. Neolithic in Co. Louth, Archaeology Ireland 54: 6.Google Scholar
O’Kelly, M.J., Lynch, F. & O’Kelly, C.. 1978. Three passage-graves at Newgrange, Co. Meath, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 78C: 249352.Google Scholar
O’Kelly, M.J., Cleary, R. & Lehane, D.. 1983. Newgrange, Co Meath, Ireland: The Late Neolithic/Beaker period settlement. (Ed. O’Kelly, C.). Oxford: British Archaeological Reports. Internationa] series S190.Google Scholar
Ó NuallÁin, S. 1972. A Neolithic House at Ballyglass near Ballycastle, Co. Mayo, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 102: 4957.Google Scholar
Ó RÍordÁin, S.P. 1954. Lough Gur Excavations: Neolithic and Bronze Age Houses on Knockadoon, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 56C: 297459.Google Scholar
Purcell, A. 1998. Brownstown, Corbally and Silliot Hill, Co. Kildare, in Bennett, I. (ed.), Excavations 1997: 91. Dublin: Wordwell.Google Scholar
Purcell, A. 1999. Neolithic houses at Corbally, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, Archaeology Ireland 47: 15.Google Scholar
Simpson, D. 1996. The Ballygalley houses, Co. Antrim, Ireland, in Darvill, & Thomas, (ed.): 123–32.Google Scholar
Simpson, D., Conway, M. & Moore, D.. 1990. The Neolithic settlement site at Ballygalley, Co. Antrim. Excavations 1989, interim report, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 53: 4049.Google Scholar
Simpson, D., Conway, M. & Moore, D.. 1994. Ballygalley, Co. Antrim, in Bennett, I. (ed.), Excavations 1993: 12. Dublin: Organisation of Irish Archacologists/Wordwell.Google Scholar
Topping, P. 1996 Structure and ritual in the Neolithic house: some examples from Britain and Ireland, in Darvill, & Thomas, (ed.): 157–70.Google Scholar
Waddell, J. 1998. The prehistoric archaeology of Ireland. Galway: Galway University Press.Google Scholar