The Archaeology of Ardmore and its environs

By

John TierneyEachtra Archaeological Projects

www.eachtra.ie

Archaeological timelines

• Meso• Neo• BA• IA• EM• M• Post-med• Modern

Intro

• Mesolithic Period 8000-4000 BC• Neolithic Period 4000-2000 BC• Bronze Age Period 2500-500 BC• Iron Age Period 500 BC -500 AD• Early Christian Period or Early Medieval Period

500 AD -1000 AD• Medieval Period 1000 – 1600 AD

The Physical Landscape

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• Class & Hierarchy• Agriculture– Subsistence– Surplus– Close to land

• Networks of sites– Territories

St Declans stone

Small prehistoric settlement

Coastal archaeologyCrannogShipwrecksCoastguard stations

Townland names with an ecclesiastical association•Crossford (The ford of the termon cross)•Monea (The Bog of Hugh)•Crushea (Hugh’s termon cross)•Carraigea (Aodhs rock)•Clarkstown (The monks estate)•Athnaglara (the ford of the monks)•Grange•Mill and Churchquarter

•Survivors of a landholding system which is over 1000 years old

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Archaeological timelines

• Meso• Neo• BA• IA• EM• M• Post-med• Modern

• 1632 Richard Boyle lets silver mines of Ardmore to Capt. Burgh for 7 years, 1634 John Hayes and William Pennington take over lease, Mr Mason is overseer of the mines at this time, 1636 Mr Edmond Marckant is factor at Ardmore mines.

Archaeological timelines

• Meso• Neo• BA• IA• EM• M• Post-med• Modern

Piltown towerhouse

Piltown mill