Megalithic Art in Ireland

By Muiris O'Sullivan

'Megalithic art' refers to an ornamental tradition that flourished along the western edge of Europe during the Late Stone Ages and Early Bronze Age. The art is characterised by carved and picked designs, and examples survive on the structural stones of megalithic tombs and on pottery and other portable objects found within them. Passage-tombs, especially in Ireland, are the classic repositories of megalithic art, and the most remarkable concentration is found in County Meath in the Boyne Valley, where the great mounds of Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth contain more than six hundred decorated stones. The discoveries in the Boyne Valley have spawned a variety of publications on megalithic art in Ireland, yet this is the first general book on the subject. Aimed at the layperson and student, it takes megalithic art at face value, placing it within its archaeological framework and attempting to open up aspects of its meaning for the benefit of the reader. It presents the most up-to-date insights into the symbolism of the art, and includes a select bibliography for the serious researcher, who may wish to pursue the arguments presented in further detail. The text is beautifully illustrated wi

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0946172366
• ISBN13: 9780946172368
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Country House
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.3" x 9.5"