The Sacred Flame
By: Aisling Bronach of House Shadow Drake
The earliest human remains that have been found in the British Isles was a
shinbone which has come to be called the Boxgrove bone. It was discovered in West
Sussex, England by Dr. Mark Roberts of the University College London, and was
classified as a member of the archaic Homo sapiens. The bone itself is said to date
to about 500,000 years ago. Other early finds have included a fragments of bone
from the Pontnewydd Cave in the Southern portion of Wales, and the Swanscombe skull
from Kent, England. Both of these finds date from about 250,000 years ago which
demonstrate the age significance of the Boxgrove bone.
Nearby, a group of people called the Atapuerca have been discovered in Burgos,
Spain. At Sierra de Atapuerca, three braincases were found which dated to 300,000
years old. Although they are pre-Neanderthal, they showed some of the
distinguishable characteristics of that species such as pragnosis, and pronounced
brow ridges. Many researchers believe that these and the previous finds in other
parts of Europe during this time may represent another species of Homo Erectus that
did not survive. Both the Swanscombe Skull and another skull from Steinheim,
Germany are believed to be a part of this new species.
In Ireland, man does not emerge until the Neolithic Period. Although there have
been finds which date back to the Paleolithic Period, they are held as being
skeptical and not widely accepted by the scientific community. Most of the earliest
finds are from along the Southeast coastline. This was probably due to the dense
forested regions and dangers that lied further inland. As these early inhabitants
became more accustomed to the land, they began to improve their mode of living and
moved further inland. They also begin to clear some of the forested regions, and
erect stone monuments for the dead. The interior of Ireland contained many oaks and
pine trees, swampy bogs, and rivers. The climate was moist and cold. There were
also many animals that inhabited the land that are now extinct. These included:
Irish Elk (Cervus giganteus), wolves, wild boars, bears, and other smaller
animals and birds. In the peat deposits, the following trees make their appearance
into the archeological record: birch, willow, pine, hazel, elm, oak, alder, and
lime. As far as resources are concerned, copper, iron, silver, and lead were found
in abundant quantities. By the Bronze Age, gold was easily available in river
deposits. Although special metallurgy shops have been found for the working of
gold, no gold-mine has ever been recovered.
The oldest find in Ireland was located in Latharna on the Northeastern coast of
Ireland. These included mostly flints. It is located 30 miles from the coast of
Scotland, which would help to enable the migration of the earlier inhabitants. The
Campignian civilization was predominate at this time in Ireland. It is thought to
have originally developed in Scandinavia alongside the Azilian civilization. It
seems to be relatively clear that these two civilizations developed independently
with each other instead of from each other. It can be distinguished by the use of
straight edged bi-facial axes with beveled edges, and a pick that took the form of
a straight stone bar with both ends rounded.
However, it must also be noted that the Campignian civilization was never in
Scotland. Therefore, the earliest migrations were probably not directly from the
peoples who were occupying Scotland at that time, but rather instead from the
continental Scandinavian communities. Although, a site from Scotland at Oronsay
gave a lot of information about the living circumstances at that time. It has been
determined that the tribe that occupied the area was concerned with hunting,
fishing, and fowling. There is no evidence concerning agriculture or farming in any
way. It is believed that they came from the continent via a currach, which
was made by stretching animal skins over a wooden boat from that resembled a
canoe.
But, we are confronted with yet another more complications when we try to
identify the earliest settlers of Ireland. Latharna is an interesting site. It is
located in the gravel of a crescent-shaped sand spit that projects out into a
harbor. The deposits are sandwiched between a layer of estuarine clay and
boulder-clay, which allows use to get a fairly accurate date. Nearby, there is also
a mammoth tooth, but it is not contained within a bed and so is thought to be in
secondary context. There are some, though, that are using this to legitimize the
theory that the site predates the Neolithic Period. But, from the dates that have
been determined by the stratification of the soil, we can maintain that this site
is definitely a part of The Neolithic.
Another interesting site is that of the Kilgreany Man in Co. Waterford, Ireland.
This particular skeleton was recovered from the third layer, and was named
"Kilgreany B." It was recovered from between two layers of stalagmite, which
clearly dates the skeleton to the early Mesolithic, and maybe even within the
Paleolithic Period. Another skull was found above it in the previous layer, and
was labeled as "Kilgreany A." The controversy lies between the age of the two
skulls. "A" was identified to be the remains of a middle-aged female, whereas the
sex of "B" is still being debated in the academic field. There is also disagreement
as to whether or not the two skulls are a part of the same race. The
characteristics that distinguish "B" from being a part of the Mesolithic period can
be found from the Neolithic as well. But, as the debate goes, all these
characteristics have never been found on one skull at a single time. It would give
the appearance of a Cro-Magnon, which again could place it well within the
Mesolithic period as well, somewhere between 7,800 and 2,000 BC
Around 8,000 BC, a warming trend occurred in Ireland called the Littletonian.
The increase in temperature aided in the development of plants and animals that
were more accustomed to warmer climates. It is believed that during this period of
time the first humans set foot in Ireland. The island was far more conducive to an
environment that encouraged human settlement.
There are many different tool traditions that dominate throughout Ireland. But,
due to improper dating and disagreement among scholars, it is difficult to
accurately trace the traditions on any level. Early Irish archaeology is very
chaotic and in a great deal of turmoil at this point in time.
The inhabitants of Ireland are for the most part refugees or outcasts who were
fleeing their oppressors. It provided a place of refuge and relative safety which
was somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. One of the primary theories in
use today places some of these immigrants as coming from Scythia and other regions
of the Baltic area. One of the firmly established cultures that can be identified
is that of the Picts which crossed over from Scotland. The origin of this culture
is still very dubious, though.
The earliest radiocarbon date for the human inhabitation of Ireland was about
7,490 BC The sample that documents this date was obtained from a primitive
settlement that contained charcoal remains at Woodpark in Co. Sligo Another find
occurs at Mount Sandel in Co. Derry It is located on a bluff above the Bann River
and contains the remains of round houses. These houses pre-date any that have ever
been found in Britain. Only 6 meters in diameter, they are marked by angled wooden
post holes and areas where the sod was taken up from the ground to probably be
placed around the structure for addition protection from the elements. There are
also traces of hearths inside the dwellings themselves which were about 1 m across
and 30 cm deep. From the bones that were found, we can get a better idea of what
the environment was like at that time. There are eels, salmon, sea bass, flounder,
pigeon, duck, grouse, pig, and hare. From this it can be seen that this was
evidently a fishing and hunting community. Some of the animals that you would
expect to see such as cattle, deer, and elk are missing completely from the
archaeological record at this site. Hazel nuts were found stored near eels,
indicating that this community probably inhabited the site during the summer and
winter. This is further implied when we take into account that the pigs were killed
when they were young, thus showing that the establishment existed into the winter
months as well when food sources were not as easily available. There are a surplus
of flint tools at this site as well. The nearest available flint, though, must have
been transported from the Antrim coast . There are a wide variety of tools that
include: geometrical microliths, axes, broad-flake adzes, needle-points, awls,
scrapers, blades, and of course flint cores. There were also polished stone axes.
This is surprising as this particular type of axe did not emerge until the time of
the Neolithic agriculturists. This site presents a distinct picture of the Irish
Mesolithic. It is the earliest site that can be dated without argument to around
7,010 to 6,490 BC Being inhabited for almost 500 years, it represents a
significant portion of the archeological record when we try to understand what life
was like for humans at this time.
The next major event that effected Ireland greatly was use of agriculture. The
Irish inhabitants used a slash-and-burn method for clearing the land to prepare for
farming. There is a noticeable lack in tree pollen in the Northeast section of
Ireland with places the beginnings of sedentary life at around 3,895 and 2,965 BC
in Co. Kerry There is a layer of charcoal with a layer of cereal pollens
immediately on top of it. These include wheat, barley, and ribwort, plantain
(plantago lanceolata). Another site of early agriculture occurs in Co.
Antrim at Ballyscullion. There are clear indications of human manipulation of the
local foliage around 3,865 and 3,580 BC
At this same site, there are indications of a noticeable increase of ribwort,
plantain, and grass. There was a pit were pottery was contained that dated from
3,795 to 3,550 BC A square wooden house was also preserved at this site. It has
been determined that the house's demise was due to fire. It contained two hearths
one of burned red clay, and the other hollowed and filled with burnt remains. The
house itself was 6m by 6.5 m, and faced East-West. This is probably due to the
superstitious beliefs that made it advantageous to orient their dwelling in
accordance to the path of the sun.
It was these early immigrants that developed their own culture and religion that
was well in place before the arrival of what we modernly call the Druids. As the
Romans began to cover the European continent, they began pushing people further and
further West. But, unfortunately, no one can run forever. Eventually, the Roman
culture spread everywhere., By the year 59 AD, the Emperor Claudius had driven
all the Druids out of Gaul and was seeking to eradicate them. They were slowly
pushed into across the continent into Ireland where they brought with them law and
the ability to record a written language. Although the Druids maintained an oral
tradition, they did practice the Ogham alphabet which allowed the recording of
stone markers and other similar objects. However, it should also be noted that the
Ogham did not arrive until the introduction of Christianity and was a byproduct
thereof. Coincidentally, the Druids were reported to have had a great distaste for
the use of the Ogham for purposes of recording information.
A religion helps to identify the ideologies of a culture. It gives us insight
into the way they thought and provides us with an explanation of why they did what
they did. The early inhabitants of Ireland had their own religion that was distinct
within itself. For lack of a better term, they were called Druids. But these were
not the same Druids that came from Gaul bringing with them the Ogham. By the time
the term druid came to Ireland, it referred to a wise person or a person of
mystical knowledge and not to the religion-political order which had previously
arisen on the continent. The only things we really know for certain about this
early religion of Ireland was that it involved the worship of great people who had
died. One of the first recognized deities was Oengus of the Brugh. It is believed
that this god was a real man who lived sometime during the Bronze Age. From the
available information, Oengus of the Brugh probably took part in the building of
New Grange under the king Teamhair. When the Celts came to Ireland, they began to
call him the Dagda or Ge'ide.
In a myth concerning the love story of Diarmuid and Grainne, it tells of Aenghus
of the Brugh taking Diarmuid's body back to his Brugh. It is said that he could not
bring the dead back to life, so he put a spirit into Dairmuid's body so that he
could speak with him every day. From this, we come to understand that Aenghus was
of the same tribe as Diarmuid and had thus come to retrieve the body of his
clansman. This tribe was the Ernai of Mumha which existed before the arrival of the
Celts. Grainne, on the other hand, was a part of the lighter haired Celtic people
who they were fighting against to maintain their lands.
The Brugh that is being spoken of is Newgrange. In later stories, Oengus talks
his father the Dagda into giving him the Brugh for today and tomorrow. This in fact
meant for eternity, and so he gained the use of the Brugh forever. This is probably
why so much confusion exists between the Dagda and Aenghus during the transition
between the native peoples and the domineering Celts. In later times, Aenghus
become identified with Aenghus mac Og, the Celtic god of love.
Newgrange is located on the North side of the Boyne River, whose deity is Boand.
She is a perfect example of a river giantess. On the continent, there were many
river goddesses such as the Danu from the Danube River, Sequanta from the Seine
River, and Brigantia from the Brent River.
Boand was considered to be the mother of Aenghus mac Og by the Dagda. The legend
that concerns her says that she went to a well over-shadowed by nine hazel trees
which grew crimson red hazelnuts. The nuts contained all knowledge. Salmon swam in
the well and ate these nuts which inspired them with this divine knowledge. But,
no one was allowed to go near the well. Boand decided to do it anyway, and as she
approached the waters contained within the well burst forth and became the
Boyne River, and the salmon swam freely within it.
When the Celts finally made their way to Ireland, Christianity was already beginning to appear. Once again,
the land of Ireland provided a safe refuge for those Christian that were seeking to escape the Romans. The
Gaulish Druids helped to institute the Brehon laws which enabled a formalized set of laws and a judicial body
that would help to carry out punishment as they saw fit. Unlike some societies, women were respected and
given al lot of freedoms that were otherwise not granted. There were strict laws against wife-beating and other
such monstrosities. Criminals were disposed of as ritualistic sacrifices in many areas. But these practices
rapidly got out of hand, and soon it was becoming evidently too clear that the sacrifices demanded by the
gods were far in excess of anything remotely reasonable.
It is said that St. Patrick came went to Magh Sleacht where he saw a large
gold-covered stone in the middle of a circle of twelve smaller stones. It is said
that the gold stone represented the god Cromm Cruaich surrounded by twelve lesser
gods under his jurisdiction. A poem from The Voyage of Bran, dating from
about 1,000 years ago, tells a little bit more about the worship of Cromm Cruaich.
We find reference to the sacrifice of a king by the name of Tighearnmhas on
Samhain, the day when the Druids made the grandest sacrifice to the gods. This god
was propagated for milk, corn, and an increase in the abundance of the crops. Only a
fourth of the people were allowed to live after the sacrifice day. They practiced
self-mutilation, prostration, and the sacrifice of their children. It is said that
the people who worshipped Cromm Cruaich were from a race of people descended from
Eremon. It was not until St. Patrick took a sledge-hammer and destroyed the stones
that the worship of these hideous gods stopped.
It is little wonder that so many people converted quickly to Christianity. At
that time, many of the core beliefs were very similar, and so it offered a place of
refuge from the endless slaughter. The people feared the Druids, and thus gave in
to what would otherwise seem morally incorrect. The two religions slowly merged
together until they became indecipherable. Monasteries took the places where the
Irish had previously practiced their rituals and gatherings. The feast days of the
Catholic saints merged with the holy days of the ancient Irish. As the number of
converts increased, the Druids became priests. The old beliefs and rituals still
persisted in folklore and superstition.
Ireland was forever changed. This change is considered to have had as great of
an effect as the beginnings of agriculture. It would start a series of events that
would greatly effect the way that the Irish viewed the rest of the world, the wars
it would fight, and even the land itself.
