Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

< Back to Table of Contents I recently posted about a rather wonderful collection of Romanesque capitals from Saint-Laurent. They are gorgeous pieces, demonstrating the very best of the craftsman’s art. They, like this little carving of an abbot or bishop, date to the 12th century, but the two couldn’t be more different. This figure, holding a crook in his right hand, is remarkably crude and inelegantly executed by comparison … but it is endlessly charming and I love it anyway! He was discovered in 1851 set into the east end of the church. Later in the same century the carving was repurposed as a modillion (or cornice bracket). Thankfully, the decision was made to create a replica and this delicate carving was brought indoors in 1997.

The British Museum holds just five items identified as coming from Co Laois~Queen's County. Each is assigned to different time period and object type. All are of Metal. < Table of Contents Early Bronze Age: Metal item Stradbally flat axe WG.1524 Copper-alloy flat axe; straight, angular butt. Sides are almost parallel in the upper half, then splay outwards to form a wide, semi-circular cutting-edge. Entire object is covered with brown, red, green and orange patina. http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=683297&partId=1 Early Medieval: Metal item Portarlington ringed pin; ring brooch 19130710.300 Bronze ring brooch; hatched pseudo-penannular ring an raised border, thee raised empty settings, two scrolls and loop at base; hooked pin. 8thC-9thC http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=86940&partId=1 Roman: Metal item Laois ...

< Back to Table ofContents I don’t really have much to say about this collection of 12th century sandstone capitals other than to note that they are absolutely gorgeous. They were originally from several different Romanesque features of the church, before being disassembled and reused elsewhere. They have been found during various conservation works and during the course of the excavations here. I just adore their variety and freshness – even after the best part of 900 years – and the thought that if they bring a smile to my face now, they probably did exactly the same for those who saw them when they were first carved.

The British Museum holds 100 items identified as coming from Co Westmeath, along with a further three assigned to either Galway or Westmeath. The majority of these (76) are assigned to the Early Medieval period, followed by the Bronze Age (9) and Late Bronze Age (4). The most common object type represented are given as tool/implement (40), followed by possible pins (10). Only three material types are represented in this assemblage: Metal (46), Bone (45), and Stone (12). < Table of Contents Neolithic/Bronze Age: Stone items Westmeath axe 18510717.100 Polished stone axe; one side convexly curved, one concavely causing pointed butt to appear bent. http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1395515&partId=1 Westmeath pebble; macehead 20050501.360 Stone macehead or perforated pebble, roundish shape, rough surface, some wear/damage, orange/brown in colour. http://britishmuseum.org/research/collect...