Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

< Table of Contents I’ve wondered how I should start this series. I initially thought that I might leave my very favourite piece to last, but instead I felt that it should be true to how I actually interact with London museums – when I’m in the city I always head for the British Museum first and, within that marvelous complex, I first go see my old friend Ramesses II. This upper portion of a colossal statue is one of a pair from the mortuary temple of Ramesses II in western Thebes, known as the ‘Ramesseum’. The stone for this piece was quarried as a single 20-ton block, far to the south in Aswan and transported here by river. Ramesses is a fascinating character – long lived and a prodigious builder – and, true, some of that is what attracts me to this piece. I love the statue’s serene look, coolly surveying the throngs that come to the museum every day to see him. Even after all these years, I’m still moved by Shelly’s (and, to a lesser extent, Horace Smith’s) ‘Oz...

The British Museum holds two items identified as coming from Co Monaghan. One is assigned to the Bronze Age and the other to the Late Medieval period. One is a razor, the other is a seal-impression; seal. Both are made of metal. < Table of Contents Bronze Age: Metal item Monaghan razor 18710321.100 Copper alloy tanged razor. http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=830839&partId=1 Late Medieval: Metal item Ireland seal-impression; seal OA.28 Bronze Abbot's seal-matrix of the Austin Canons Abbey of SS. Peter and Paul, Clones. 14thC http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=47349&partId=1 < Table of Contents

< 3D Images < Table of Contents So far on this trip I’ve gone full prehistoric ( Knockmany ), followed it up with an excursion into the Early Christian and Medieval ( Errigal Keerogue ), but now it was time for a trip into the post-Medieval at Portora Castle. Essentially, I’ve been getting younger as I’ve traveled west. The castle is situated on the banks of the Erne and once controlled access between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. The standing structure was, essentially, four circular corner towers, linked by curtain walling, with a three-story house (two floors with attics) at the west end. Today, one of the corner towers is missing, having been eaten away by the river and the house only survives as a foundation line. The lands here were acquired by Sir William Coles in October 1612 and it is thought that the castle was constructed soon after. At some time before 1621 the site was the residence of a Preacher called Mr Stack. The site was leased or sold on to Bisho...

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Programme Monday, 5th November Location: Kilkenny 12am-7.30pm             Delegate registration at The Set Theatre 1pm-3.30pm               Tour of Medieval Mile Museum, Rothe House Garden and Talbot's Tower with Cóilín O'Drisceoil 3.00pm-4.30pm         Tour of the Heritage Council with Colm Murray 7pm-8.15pm               Archaeology and society. Lecture by Prof. Brian Fagan (Venue: The Set Theatre) Tuesday, 6th November Location: Kilkenny 9am                              Delegate registration in The Set Theatre 9.45am-4.30pm         Creativity and community and well-b...

The British Museum holds 43 items identified as coming from Co Cork. The majority of these (10) are assigned to the Late Bronze Age, followed by the Early Bronze Age (6). The most common object type represented are penannular bracelets (7), followed by axes and hammerstones (4 each). The most popular material types represented in this assemblage are: Metal (28), Stone (13), Glass (1) and Wood (1). < Table of Contents Neolithic/Bronze Age: Stone items Cork axe 19641206.900 Polished stone axe with rounded butt; damaged/indented face. http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1358523&partId=1 Cork battle-axe 19890301.1434 Perforated stone hammerhead, butt damaged, brown in colour, rough surface. http://britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=1372124&partId=1 Cork axe 20050501.325 Polished stone axe with slightly damaged rounded butt; d...