Expanding Horizons: The Irish Medieval Town in Context
In collaboration with the UCD School of Archaeology
5 ECTS
SPRING AX208
Stephen Harrison and Gabriel Cooney
This field-based module will introduce students to a number of key themes in the study of Irish medieval towns. Introductory lectures will provide a context and background for two day-long field trips. The first of these, to the monastic complex at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly and its wider landscape will focus on the concept of the monastic ‘proto-town’, and the extent to which the great monasteries of early medieval Ireland had urban functions. The second, to the very-well preserved medieval town of Carlingford, Co. Louth will focus on Anglo-Norman planned towns. Both field trips will examine themes such as layout, surviving features, economic functions and political roles, and the course will seek to place these developments within a broader north European context. Ideas of expansion and decline will also be examined.
| Belfield | Map | |
| Lectures: 2 Thursdays | Feb 9, Mar 8 | 7.00pm - 9.30pm |
| Field Trips: 2 Saturdays | Feb 11, Mar 10 | 9.00am - 6.00pm |
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Tuition Fee: €210 |
Credit Fee: €60 |
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Print Credit Course Application Form 2011-2012 or ring (01) 7167123 for Laser/credit card payment |
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Tutor Details
Stephen Harrison: Educated at TCD, the University of Aarhus, Denmark, and UCC, Stephen Harrison has worked on excavations in Ireland, Britain and Norway, and has been employed on a number of Irish research projects, most recently an IRCHSS postdoctoral fellowship at UCD. In the past, he has taught at UCD, TCD, NUI Maynooth, UNW Bangor and the University of Cardiff. He specialises in medieval archaeology with a particular interest in the Vikings.
Gabriel Cooney is from Co. Louth, Ireland and both of his parents' families have strong roots there. Growing up by the sea provided an abiding interest in coastal areas and islands. One of the proudest moments of his career was delivering the address at the centenary celebrations of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society. His PhD (1987, UCD, National University of Ireland) was on prehistoric settlement patterns in North Leinster. His career in UCD has been widened and enriched by short teaching engagements in other universities and sabbatical leave (UCD President's Fellowship 1998-9; IRCHSS Government of Ireland Senior Research Fellowship 2004-5). He was appointed an Associate Professor in 1999, full professor in 2006 and Professor of Celtic Archaeology in 2008. The last decade has seen very significant changes and developments in archaeology in UCD. He served as Head of the Department in 2001-4, as interim director of the College of Arts and Celtic Studies Graduate School in 2005-6 and was Head of School from 2008 until 2011. He was also the Academic Secretary for the sixth World Archaeological Congress (WAC-6) held in Dublin in 2008 with over 1,800 participants from around the world.
Certificate in Archaeology
Please note that the Certificate in Archaeology is being discontinued and that there will therefore be no entry to it in 2012 and future years. Consequently, students who wish to complete the course must do so by the end of the 2011/12 academic year; it will not be possible to repeat the course after that time. The aim of this course is to provide students with a structured introduction to archaeology. It is designed both for people who may have a professional interest in the subject and for those with a broad enthusiasm for archaeology. It provides an opportunity to develop knowledge of the subject in a formal structured environment. Students may audit individual modules or take them for credit.
In 2011-12 four modules are being offered (two in the Autumn term and two in the Spring term). Students satisfactorily completing six modules will gain a Certificate in Archaeology.
