ar239 Landscapes of cult and kingship (OPTION)

Module Summary

Cult centres and royal complexes like Tara, Emain and Cruachain provide a fascinating window onto the evolution of religion and society in pre-Norman Ireland. Combining monuments, topographies, mythologies, histories, legends and toponomies they are landscapes of sacral and political power.  Archaeology has demonstrated that Irish royal complexes comprise monuments of every period, from the Neolithic (ca. 4000-2500 BC) to the Early Medieval Period (ca. AD 400-1000), organised into ceremonial arenas of sacral kingship and burial.

This course investigates how such landscapes evolved over time, and how topographical formations, monuments, toponomy (placenaming), mythology and history were blended to create sacralised landscapes and centres of sacral kingship.  Following instruction on the principles of Landscape Archaeology*, this course focuses on Tara, premier cult site of ancient Ireland and seat of the High-Kings; Emain Macha / Navan Fort, Co. Armagh, traditional seat of the Uliad and sacral fortress of the Red Branch Knights; Dún Ailinne / Knockaulin, Co. Kildare, seat of the Laigin; Cruachain / Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon, seat of the Connachta from where the epic Táin Bó Cuailnge (Cattle Raid of Cooley) was launched; Caisil / Cashel, Co. Tipperary, ancient capital of Munster, and Uisneach, the Navel of Ireland, meeting point of the five ancient provinces. The course finishes with an examination of how the institutions and traditions of sacral power converged with the new, Christian model of kingship and religion from the early 5^th century AD onwards.

Defined Learning Objectives

To acquire detailed knowledge of the so-called ’royal’ complexes; to raise awareness of their similitude with respect to form, location and function; to instruct students on the application of landscape archaeology in the analysis of these complexes; to raise awareness and understanding of the phenomenon of sacral kingship; to chart the change from sacral to secular power in later prehistoric and early medieval Ireland.

       N.B. There will be a one-day field class on Saturday 22nd September 2012.

Teaching and Evaluation Methods

Course is taught through a combination of theatre lectures and field-classes. Course is assessed by one 3,500 word essay submitted at the end of semester.

Links with Research

Staff in this Department have acknowledged expertise and established research and publication profiles in the examination and analysis of the archaeological and historical aspects of royal sites and complexes from prehistory to the later Middle Ages. All teaching is directly informed by this research. In addition, a number of current post-graduate students at the Department are involved in research related to ritual and royalty.

Core texts

• Bhreathnach, D. (ed.) 2005. The kingship and landscape of Tara. Dublin.
• Quigley, D. 2005. Introduction: the character of kingship. In D. Quigley (ed.), Th character of kingship. Oxford.
• Schot, R., Newman, C. & Bhreathnach, E. (eds) 2011. Landscapes of Cult and Kingship. Dublin.
• Waddell, J. 2010. The prehistoric archaeology of Ireland. 2nd edition. Galway. (Chapter 9: 'Royal sites').

Details of additional reading will be made available on Blackboard

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