Option One: Ancient Ireland Study this or 7: Medieval Ireland
Early Christian Ireland c. AD 400–800
In the last chapter, we learned about the work of an archaeologist. Now we will look at Ancient Ireland. This period covers the Stone and Bronze Ages, when people first arrived in Ireland and began to build communities. This was a time before writing was used in Ireland – the prehistoric era – so our knowledge depends completely on archaeology. Then came the Iron Age and with it the Celtic people, their more complex society and ironworking skills and an early form of writing.
Old Stone Age Middle Stone Age (Mesolithic)
No evidence of people living in Ireland
8,000 BC
First people in Ireland
New Stone Age (Neolithic)
3,500 BC
First farmers in Ireland
2,300 BC
Bronze Age
First use of metal
500 BC
Iron Age Year 1
Iron replaced bronze; arrival of Celts
400 AD
Early Christian Ireland
Arrival of Christianity
Prehistoric artefacts Type of source
Primary Primary
WORKING WITH THE EVIDENCE! —————————————
Mesolithic stone arrow head artefact Bronze Age axe head artefact
Look at these two tools. What was each of them used for? What can we tell about how life in Ireland changed over this time period by looking at these two artefacts?
