Awards

• Winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year 2016
• Winner of Current Archaeology Book of the Year 2016.

Overview

The Archaeology of Caves in Ireland is a ground-breaking and unique study of the enigmatic, unseen and dark silent world of caves. People have engaged with caves for the duration of human occupation of the island, spanning 10,000 years. In prehistory, subterranean landscapes were associated with the dead and the spirit world, with evidence for burials, funerary rituals and votive deposition. The advent of Christianity saw the adaptation of caves as homes and places of storage, yet they also continued to feature in religious practice. Medieval mythology and modern folklore indicate that caves were considered places of the supernatural, being particularly associated with otherworldly women. Through a combination of archaeology, mythology and popular religion, this book takes the reader on a fascinating journey that sheds new light on a hitherto neglected area of research. It encourages us to consider what underground activities might reveal about the lives lived aboveground, and leaves us in no doubt as to the cultural significance of caves in the past. Winner of the Current Archaeology Book of the Year 2016 award. Winner of the Tratman 2015 Award.

Full Product Details

9781782978138

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Reviews

"Handsomely produced and well-illustrated...a benchmark for future studies in Ireland and a model for researchers elsewhere. -- Ian Armit British Archaeology ""The Archaeology of Caves in Ireland does indeed set a new agenda for Irish cave archaeology but serves as a sound foundation (and sets a formidable challenge) for similar studies elsewhere."" -- Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society"

Groundbreaking and unique, it takes readers on a fascinating journey and encourages them to consider what underground activities might reveal about the lives lived aboveground, leaving no doubt as to the cultural significance of caves in the past. The book will raise awareness of, and interest in, Irish cave archaeology, inform wider archaeological discourse, contribute to international cave archaeology studies, stimulate future research projects and, most importantly, be an interesting read.--Savannah Jones SIRREADALOT.ORG (06/01/2015)

handsomely produced and well-illustrated ; a benchmark for future studies in Ireland and a model for researchers elsewhere. -- Ian Armit British Archaeology The Archaeology of Caves in Ireland does indeed set a new agenda for Irish cave archaeology but serves as a sound foundation (and sets a formidable challenge) for similar studies elsewhere. -- Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society

Handsomely produced and well-illustrated...a benchmark for future studies in Ireland and a model for researchers elsewhere. -- Ian Armit British Archaeology The Archaeology of Caves in Ireland does indeed set a new agenda for Irish cave archaeology but serves as a sound foundation (and sets a formidable challenge) for similar studies elsewhere. -- Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society

Author Information

Marion Dowd is Lecturer in Prehistoric Archaeology at the Institute of Technology Sligo, Ireland. For two decades her research has focused on the human use of caves in Ireland, and specifically the role of caves in prehistoric ritual and religion. She has directed numerous archaeological excavations in Irish caves, and has lectured and published widely on the subject. Her first book, The Archaeology of Caves in Ireland (Oxbow, 2015), won the Tratman Award 2015 and the Current Archaeology Book of the Year 2016.

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