Linked Landscapes – Spatial, Archaeoastronomical and Social Network
Analysis of the Irish Passage Tomb Tradition
Frank Prendergast
Supervisor: Prof. Gabriel Cooney
Dr. Muiris O’Sullivan
Funded by: Part-funded by the Dublin Institute of Technology
Abstract
Monuments of the passage tomb tradition constitute the third type in the tomb building sequence in Ireland, being preceded by the court cairns and portal dolmens, and followed by the wedge tomb tradition. This research will comprehensively and systematically examine the relationships between the extant passage tombs of Ireland, and topographic features and the sky, in order to test a range of ideas and theories pertaining to the symbolic and cosmological significance of monument siting and design during the Neolithic.
Construction of the passage tombs began sometime after c. 3500 BC and continued as a distinct tomb building tradition during the Irish Neolithic. The distribution of known tombs lies principally north of a line from Dublin to Sligo, with major clusters or complexes evident at several locations. Sporadic occurrences in the southern half of Ireland distort this general pattern. Beyond Ireland, a nucleus of passage tombs also occurs on the island of Anglesey with some additional outliers occurring near the west coast of the mainland of Britain. The siting, ornamentation and design of these tombs share similar characteristics with some of the Irish tombs and as such, are probably culturally linked.
Passage Tomb at Carbane East, Loughcrew, County Meath (F.Prendergast 2004)
In its classic form the passage tomb has a circular or rectangular burial chamber, approached by a passage constructed of orthostats and is covered by a round mound or cairn, which is often kerbed. Although typological differences in structure occur even within defined clusters, the passage tombs constitute a homogenous and coherent group of monuments, which are associated with the emergence of hierarchical social groups during the Neolithic. This contrasts with the simpler and more localised social groups, which are associated with the other tomb types. Although primarily constructed as burial places, passage tombs probably played a much wider role in the lives of the communities who built them, and in the lives of the generations who succeeded them.
Other completed research to date has primarily focused on spatial and landscape analysis, settlement patterns, rock art, and the interrelationships between these variables. Results indicate repetition and recurring patterns, which suggest that the passage tombs evolved under some degree of local and regional planning and organisation. There still remains a limited knowledge and understanding of many central questions pertaining to the passage tomb tradition, however. The type, extent and focus of previous research, primarily on sites where clusters of tombs exist, may partly explain such limitations. The scientific examination of the relationships between the tombs and astronomical phenomena and locally prominent features in the landscape has not been comprehensively undertaken. The broadening of research to encompass consideration of these additional variables at the widest possible number of sites, and to relate these to other archaeological variables could help overcome the qualitative deficiencies in current archaeological knowledge and theories relating to practices and beliefs during the Neolithic.
Passage Tomb at Carbane West, Loughcrew, County Meath (F.Prendergast 2004)
Passage Tomb at Carbane West, Loughcrew, County Meath (F.Prendergast 2004)
Passage Tomb at Carbane East, Loughcrew, County Meath (F.Prendergast 2004)
Passage Tomb at Carbane West, Loughcrew, County Meath (F.Prendergast 2004)
Passage Tomb at Carbane East, Loughcrew, County Meath (F.Prendergast 2004)