Overview

This book re-assesses archaeological research into holy well sites in Ireland and the evidence for votive deposition at watery sites throughout northwest European prehistory. Ray examines a much-ignored and diminishing archaeological resource; moving beyond debates about the possible Celticity of these sites in order to gain a deeper understanding of patterns among sacred watery sites. The work considers how and why sacred springs are archaeologically-resistant sites and what has actually been found at the few excavated in Ireland. Drawing on the early Irish literature (the myths, hagiographies, penitentials and annals), the author gives an account of pre-Christian supermundane wells in Ireland and what we know about their early Christian use for baptism, and concludes by considering the origins of “rounding” rituals at holy wells.

Full Product Details

Author:   Celeste Ray (Professor of Anthropology, University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee)
Publisher:   Archaeopress
Imprint:   Archaeopress Archaeology
Dimensions:   Width: 17.50cm , Height: 1.00cm , Length: 24.50cm
Weight:   0.456kg
ISBN:  

9781784910440

ISBN 10:   1784910449
Pages:   174
Publication Date:   19 January 2014
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

1: Water Veneration and Votive Deposition in Prehistoric Northern and Western Europe ; 2: Iron Age Evidence, Continuity, and the “Celtic” Question ; 3: Iron Age Water Deities ; 4: Holy Wells and Sacred Springs as Archaeologically-Resistant Sites ; 5: The Contested Origins and Materiality of Irish Holy Wells ; 6: Supermundane Wells of the Iron Age and the Early Irish Literature ; 7: Irish Sacred Wells of the Early Christian Era and the Conversion Model ; 8: Sacred Springs and Conversion Strategies in Britain and on the Continent ; 9: Christian Holy Wells and Baptism ; 10: The Origins of Rounding and the Interconnectedness of Wells ; Appendix A: Irish Excavation Reports of “holy wells” from Excavations.ie (as of June 2014) ; Appendix B: Holy Wells in the County Archaeological Inventories of Ireland

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Author Information

Celeste Ray is Professor of Anthropology at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Trained in Anthropology, Archaeology and Cultural Resource Management, she has previously published on Ethnicity, Scottish-Americans, and Regionalism.

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