Pagan Celtic Ireland: The Enigma of the Irish Iron Age 1st Edition

by B. Raftery (Author)

15 ratings

ISBN-13: 978-0500279830

ISBN-10: 0500279837

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Using the latest archaeological information, this book presents an up-to-date account of Ireland in the millennium before the coming of Christianity. New findings indicate that the construction of the country's great royal centres, such as Tara and Emain Macha, coincides with the first appearance in Ireland of the material culture of the European Celts. Raftery argues that these La Tène artefacts were the portable trappings of a rising aristocratic élite, which expressed its power by building highly visible monuments. He also discusses the advances that took place in travel and transport; the lives of common Celtic people; technology and art, including gold and stoneworking; and the complex religious beliefs exemplified by standing stones and offerings in rivers and lakes. Also included is the latest material concerning Ireland's contacts with the Roman world, and a review of the question whether La Tène culture spread to Ireland through invasion or peaceful diffusion.

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Editorial Reviews

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Deserves an honored place in every library. -- Choice

Product details

Publisher : Thames and Hudson; 1st Edition (December 31, 1994)
Language : English
Paperback : 240 pages
ISBN-10 : 0500279837
ISBN-13 : 978-0500279830
Item Weight : 1.23 pounds
Dimensions : 6.89 x 0.91 x 10.04 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,533,050 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,530 in Archaeology (Books)
- #3,352 in Ancient History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
15 ratings

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Set

has good info that other books don't have such as roads ...

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2016

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very thourough study on Iron Age Ireland, steeped in archeology, very detailed, has good info that other books don't have such as roads built through ancient bogs, the construction of hillforts, crannogs (islands) and other technology from the time. how things were made, a discussion of why, etc. highly reccomended for anyone wanting to understand the ancient celts

2 people found this helpful

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allegia

Wish there were more books like this...

Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2013

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I was drawn to this book because I've had a hard time finding works (in the US at least) that cover pre-Christian Ireland on anything other than a broad speculative level. This had a lot of hard research and excavation, and I really appreciated that. I was torn between 5 and 4 stars simply because it's a tough and sometimes dry read for anyone who's not an archaeologist...but then I feel like that's more a deficiency on my part than on the book's.

5 people found this helpful

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jameslewisf

What I was looking for

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2011

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This is a very technical archaeological look at Pagan Celtic Ireland. That is what I was looking for. I was tired of endless speculation and nontruths that have been accepted as fact about Celts in general. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it is VERY technical, even for me. I was also hoping for more illustrations about how settlements and people might have looked instead of illustrations just of findings, but it's still full of great illustrations and photos. Recommended for any history buff.

10 people found this helpful

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Craig D Taylor

Obscure and needed

Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2016

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It came as was described and at the promised time. Could not ask for more.

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Michael Proctor

Brilliant scholarship in a difficult area of Irish history.

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2017

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A very thorough scholarship. A great pity the author died so young. Excellent reference to source materials and other quotations. This is a very
difficult study area, there are very many man made overlays to confuse the original and basic facts. The religious history of Ireland is a major
complicating factor. Rather surprising the author was based at a Catholic study centre and yet able to undermine so many “myths”.

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Jogger

Archeology of Iron Age Irish Celts, Especially hill forts and burial mounds

Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2019

This is mainly an archeology book. This was the first book I'd skimmed or read (by 2000) on Ireland which didn't have a bias or agenda. Kudos to Raftery for suppressing his subjectivity.
Raftery draws the conclusion that Ireland was already in the Iron Age when the La Tene Celts arrived, and that the probabilities of the existing Irish populace independently discovering iron working are slim to none. He also observes that the La Tene Celts made little to no impact on the existing culture. So who exactly was already there, and why do we think of Ireland as Celtic? The unstated by implied assumption is that the Hallstatt Celts settled there first, but Raftery has insufficient evidence to draw that conclusion, and so conservatively does not.
If you're interested in the archeological evidence of bronze and iron age Irish Celts, especially hill forts and burial mounds, this is the book for you.

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Uachtaráin

Excellent source on Iron Age Ireland

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2003

In this book the author, who is head of archeology at University College Dublin, gives us a great insight into the current research on this period in Ireland. There is so much pseudo-history and myth that gets repeated over and over again that this book offers a rare insight into what Irish scholars actually know about Celtic Ireland. It deals quite effectively with the issue of the mythological "Celtic" invasion of people and explains the circumstances surrounding the arrival or development of the Celtic culture in Ireland.

It is written from an archaeological point of view but should also be of interest to general readers. I highly recommend it as a source for scholars of this period and readers who want to know more about the Iron Age in Ireland.

21 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

First class service

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2019

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Extremely prompt delivery, well packaged and exactly as described. First class!

Anon

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 21, 2015

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A great book.

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