Other Publications - Science ITS
https://research.thea.ie/handle/20.500.12065/184
2024-03-29T08:22:06ZDeer and identity in medieval Ireland
https://research.thea.ie/handle/20.500.12065/726
Deer and identity in medieval Ireland
Beglane, Fiona
Kucera, M.; Kunst, G.K.
The concept that identity is inextricably linked with places, landscapes and objects has
become familiar in archaeology (Thomas 1998, 80, 90; Bradley 2000, 155-61; O'Keeffe
2001). It is only recently however that this idea has been extended to animals and their
interaction with human society (Crabtree 2007, 237). This paper examines how deer
hunting was used to maintain identity in medieval Ireland, a country in which two very
different cultures co-existed. Until the twelfth century Ireland was predominantly
Gaelic with the coastal cities such as Dublin and Limerick having been founded by the
Vikings. This changed with the coming of the Anglo-Normans in the late twelfth
century when they settled in Ireland and introduced their own culture (Barry 2003, 35-
6). The paper will discuss the different arenas in which hunting took place in Gaelic
and Anglo-Norman society before providing an overview of what is known about
fallow deer and deer parks in Ireland. To illustrate the differences in approach between
the cultures two case studies based on the author’s analysis of the faunal assemblages
are presented, with Kilteasheen being a Gaelic site and Greencastle being AngloNorman.
2010-01-01T00:00:00ZDeer in medieval Ireland: preliminary evidence from Kilteasheen, Co. Roscommon
https://research.thea.ie/handle/20.500.12065/725
Deer in medieval Ireland: preliminary evidence from Kilteasheen, Co. Roscommon
Beglane, Fiona
Finan, T.
Animal bones are among the most common finds from excavations in
Ireland, and the majority of these are the remains of cattle, sheep and pig. While
bones from other species are also found they rarely receive much attention in
excavation reports where most of the discussion is focused on the economically
important species. Deer bones are usually only excavated in small numbers but are
common themes in medieval artwork, poetry and literature,1
and so can be said to
have a symbolic importance far beyond their economic value.
A red deer skull and six fragments of antler from at least three individual
deer were found during recent excavations at a high-status ecclesiastical site at
Kilteasheen, Knockvicar, Co. Roscommon, on the shores of Lough Cé, and were
analyzed by the author. These bones provided an opportunity to partially redress the
lack of attention paid to the minor species by synthesizing what is known about
deer and deer hunting in medieval Ireland, so hopefully providing archaeologists
and historians with useful background information. The paper briefly reviews the
biology of deer and the processes of deer hunting before discussing the material
from Kilteasheen and its significance.
2010-01-01T00:00:00Z