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"A fascinating insight into Ireland's ancient burial sites" - Irish Independent |
Established
16/3/2000 |
|
Engraved
stone in La Tène style
The
Turoe Stone, located in County Galway in the west of Ireland,
is one of the most instantly recognisable examples of ancient
art in Ireland. It is the best example, from a select few surviving
examples, of a Celtic art style called La Tène.
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|
| In
fact, it has been hailed as one of the finest examples of La Tène
art in Europe, and in its Irish context, the art is assignable
to the Iron Age, and specifically the last three centuries Before
Christ.
Standing 1.68 metres high, the Turoe Stone is highly decorated,
with spirals, circles, curves, and other motifs. The patterns
are in relief because the stone was skilfully picked back from
the surface. |
| |
Although
the stone is now positioned on the lawn in front of Turoe House
in the town of Loughrea, County Galway, George Coffey, in his 1904
paper for the Royal Irish Academy on the subject of La Tène art,
said it had been moved in the 1850s from its original location near
the Rath of Feerwore, an Iron Age ring-fort structure, at nearby
Kiltullagh. Some commentators have said it's surprising the stone
survives intact given the beauty of its art. The stone is set in
a concrete base and metal grille to prevent grazing cattle using
it as a scratch post. |
| The
stone's phallic shape has led some researchers to comment that it
could have been related to a fertility cult. Perhaps the stone dates
from the Bronze Age or the Neolithic, and was decorated in later
times, but this is mere speculation. Other examples of stones with
La
Tène art include Castlegrange, Co. Roscommon, Killycluggin, Co.
Cavan, Mullaghmast, Co. Kildare, and Derrykeighan, Co. Antrim. |
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Many
thanks to Eileen Roche for these wonderful photographs of the
Turoe Stone.
FURTHER
READING
Kenneth
McNally, Standing Stones and other monuments of Early Ireland,
Appletree, 1984.
Michael J. O'Kelly, Early Ireland - an Introduction to Irish Prehistory,
Cambridge, 1989.
Sean P. O'Riordain, Antiquities of the Irish Countryside, University
Paperbacks 1942 (1965).
More books listed here. |
| RELATED
WEB SITES
I
found some good pictures of the Turoe Stone at this
website, including an up-close look at the art, while Andy
Burnham's Megalithic
Portal has some information
and a good photograph also. |
Back
to the ancient sites section
|
Requests
for photos to: mythicalireland@eircom.net
