Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

Some time ago I published a piece on this blog about the occurrences of swastikas in Early Medieval Irish Art ("Always remember to draw the swastika turning to the right": Some thoughts on swastika directionality in Early Medieval Irish Art ). For the most part, these examples are relative uncontroversial – while their exact meaning may be up for debate, they’re individually identifiable as swastikas. That is, until one comes to St Patrick’s Bell shrine. The external portion of the shrine was commissioned somewhere between 1091 and 1105 by King Domnall Ua Lochlainn. In among the writhing serpentine motif, showing the influence of the Scandinavian ‘Urnes style’ there are a number of swastikas, L-shapes, and Tau crosses. They are all formed through the interplay of a pierced silver grille against a sheet of gilded bronze. By my count there are some 37 clockwise-spinning swastikas. And that is where the problem lies … ‘by my count’ … one particular commentator on the piece ar...

This is not an archaeology post, but I hope you’ll read it anyway. In August this year the magnificent Punk survivors Stiff Little Fingers finished their current tour on home ground at the ‘Putting the Fast in Belfast’ festival at Custom House Square. This is the third such event and I’ve been lucky enough to attend them all. Going back before that they’ve been playing one particular song since 2014 and always with a similar themed introduction. I though it was time that Jake Burns’ words were allowed to speak beyond SLF fans to whatever little audience I can provide. Here’s what he said in Belfast on August 24th 2019: “The next tune was never supposed to see the light of day. It was written just for something for me to keep to myself. But we went ahead and recorded it and I’m really glad we did and I’ll tell you for why. It’s a song I wrote to deal with the fact that I suffer from depression. It’s a thing that’s bugged me for abut four or five years now, if not lon...

A hoard of five copper axes from Lough Ravel, County Antrim. Now in the Ulster Museum. I just liked the composition of the display and the prominence of the museum accession numbers ... to me they speak of the importance of collection, curation, and study - all the things a good museum facilitates and fosters. The Ulster Museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays & is free! Go explore!

The Malone Hoard is a collection of 19 polished axe heads. They were found on the grounds of Danesfort House on the Malone Road, Belfast. The present house was built for Samuel Barbour to the designs of William J Barre in 1864 and takes its name from an earlier rath or earthwork on the site. Although nothing survives of the archaeological site today, it is likely that it post-dated the deposition of the axe heads and was not directly connected to them. It was during the digging of the foundations that the axe heads, along with a number of urns, were found. When discovered, some of the axe heads were reported to have been found placed vertically in the earth. Once the house was completed, they were displayed in cabinets in the library. When Samuel died in 1879 his widow married Charles Duffin and the house remained in the family until the 1940s. After passing through a number of corporate owners, the house was refurbished in the late 1980s and is the current home of the United States ...

The entrance to the archaeological section ( i.e. the best bit) of the Ulster Museum is guarded by two Irish elk ( Megaloceros giganteus ). One is a skeleton of that iconic beast and the other is a reconstruction of what the animal most probably looked like in life. I love both of these … not just because they mark where my main interests in the museum begins … but because together they literally put flesh on the bones of an extinct animal. And, whether animal or human, isn’t that exactly what a museum should do? Go check out their web page for opening times and all related information [ here ] … it’s well worth the time and the trip! As you stop and admire the conserved skeleton and the reconstructed one (seemingly caught mid yawp) reflect on these magnificent animals that once roamed across Ireland and as far east as Siberia and China. Reflect too on the fact that my instinct led me to imagine them as producing a ‘yawp’ when, if they were anything like their m...

You don’t have to know much about Northern Ireland to know that we have murals … lots of murals … I’ve written before about how they act as social barometers, with changing themes and emphases reflecting wider concerns within varies communities. While even a basic Google image search will return plenty of images of Northern Ireland’s murals, I recently noticed that there are relatively few images out there of murals during construction. It’s easy to see why so few such images exist – it’s a relatively short process (a matter of days) in relation to the amount of time they’re visible for (frequently several years). There’s also the issue that – especially for the more sectarian examples - many artists may be reluctant to be filmed or photographed. In June of last year, in the run up to the Euro 2016 soccer competition in France, a gable wall at the junction of Carnforth Street and the Albertbridge Road in East Belfast was chosen to receive a tribute to the Northern Ireland soccer...

As part of the UK Festival of Archaeology, Dr Greer Ramsey, Curator of Archaeology, will give two illustrated talks highlighting a number of key objects from the collections. Dressed to Impress: Bronze Age Gold Jewellery Ulster Museum, Belfast Saturday 23 July 2016 12noon – 1.00pm This illustrated talk explores several stunning items of Bronze Age gold jewellery on display in the Ulster Museum. Collection highlights: Archaeological Treasures from the Ulster Museum Tuesday 9 August 2016 2.00pm – 3.00pm This illustrated talk highlights some of the most significant objects on display in the Ulster Museum. Admission is free but advance booking is advised For further information please contact 028 9044 0000 (10.00am-5.00pm Tuesday–Sunday). email: ulstermuseumreception@nmni.com To book tickets please go to www.nmni.com/um/What-s-on

< 3D Images | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V I had left it pretty late on the Sunday afternoon before I got out to see May Street Presbyterian Church, and then lingered there quite some time. But, scanning the EHOD brochure, I saw that the First Presbyterian Church on Rosemary Street was still open and nearby … I could make it! Like St Mark’s, Dundela, I’d been in this building only once before, many years ago for another EHOD event. It was time to renew an old acquaintance! This beautiful building was initially constructed between 1781 and 1783 to the design of Roger Mulholland . Thus, it is the oldest surviving place of worship in Belfast. The front façade was extended in 1833 and the rear was extended in 1906-7. The latter additions were to the design of Belfast architecture firm, Young & Mackenzie . From the outside, it appears that the main body of the church is circular in plan, but it is only when you go inside you find that Mulholland’s des...

Get yourself a pair of 3D glasses and enjoy these anaglyphs of this wonderful church. Click for larger images. A catalogue of similar images on this blog is available: here . Back to main post > Back to main post >

< 3D Images | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part VI > On the Sunday morning, perusing the EHOD brochure, I realised that there was little on offer in east Belfast that I’ve not already seen, so it was time to cast the net somewhat wider. One of the first that caught my eye was May Street Presbyterian Church in central Belfast. Like many of the other EHOD properties I’ve reported on for this blog, I’ve passed by on a regular basis, but never ventured in … it was time to change that! From the outside, it is a rather severe, Neoclassical building that, to my eyes at least, has always appeared somewhat stern and uninviting. Well, the building may have looked that way, but the people inside couldn’t be further from it. I received a warm welcome and an excellent guided tour about the building, all the time being serenaded by some extremely fine organ music … what’s not to like? The building opened in 1829, essentially as a platform for the near-legendary Presb...