Garranes: An Early Medieval Royal Site in South-West Ireland

Presenting the results of an interdisciplinary project (2011-18) where archaeological survey and excavation, supported by specialist studies, examined the early medieval landscape of Garranes. A ringfort in the mid-Cork region of south-west Ireland, this ‘royal site’ is considered to have been a centre of political power and elite re

Ringforts were an important part of the rural settlement landscape of early medieval Ireland (AD 400-1100). While most of those circular enclosures were farmsteads, a small number had special significance as centres of political power and elite residence, also associated with specialized crafts. One such ‘royal site’ was Garranes in the mid-Cork region of south-west Ireland. In 1937, archaeological excavation of a large trivallate ringfort provided evidence of high-status residence during the fifth and sixth centuries AD. The site had workshops for the production of bronze ornaments, with glass and enamel working as well as indications of farming. Pottery and glass vessels imported from the Mediterranean world and Atlantic France were also discovered. That trade with the Late Roman world is significant to understanding the introduction of Christianity and literacy in southern Ireland at that time. This monograph presents the results of an interdisciplinary project conducted 2011-18, where archaeological survey and excavation, supported by various specialist studies, examined this historic landscape. Garranes is a special place where archaeology, history and legend combine to uncover a minor royal site of the early medieval period. The central ringfort has been identified as Rath Raithleann, the seat of the petty kingdom of Ui Echach Muman, recalled in bardic poetry of the later medieval period. Those poems attribute its foundation to Corc, a King of Munster in the fifth century AD, and link the site closely to Cian, son-in-law of Brian Boruma, and one of the heroes of Clontarf (AD 1014). This study provides new evidence to connect the location of Rath Raithleann to high-status occupation at Garranes during the fifth and sixth centuries, and explores its legendary associations in later periods.

1. Garranes: an Introduction ;

2. The Archaeological Landscape ;

3. Lisnacaheragh ;

4. Lisnamanroe ;

5. Lisheenagreine ;

6. Other Excavations ;

7. Specialist Studies ;

8. Early Medieval Settlement and Economy at Garranes ;

9. Ringforts in the Landscape ;

10. Garranes: a Royal Landscape? ;

References

William O’Brien is Professor of Archaeology in University College Cork, Ireland. His research interests include the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age in Ireland, early mining and metallurgy in Atlantic Europe, upland archaeology, the study of hillforts and monumentality in the later prehistoric period. He has a particular interest in the prehistory of south-west Ireland, where he has conducted numerous research excavations. ;
Nick Hogan is Technical Officer for the Department of Archaeology in University College Cork. He is an experienced field archaeologist with a range of skills in excavation, land survey and geophysics.

• By (author) William O’Brien
• By (author) Nick Hogan

'This is an important publication that makes a signficant contribution to our understanding not only of this early medieval landscape but also of early medieval studies as a whole.' – Archaeology Ireland, Vol. 35, No. 2 (2021)

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'All told, this volume is handsomely published by Archaeopress with excellent figures, and also benefits from being freely accessible as an Open Access publication. Securing a hard copy while it is available, however, is advisable, as this is destined to be an indispensable landmark for the wider field. This truly seminal publication demonstrates the enduring value of long-term, landscape-scale field projects, which one may hope will become a regular feature of the research landscape for early medieval Ireland.' – Patrick Gleeson (2021): Journal of Irish Archaeology

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‘This impressive tome combines the results of field research in 1990-92 and 2011-18 with a reappraisal of the earlier work, plus other studies setting the site archaeology in a broader historical and landscape context.’ – Deirdre O’Sullivan (2022): Medieval Settlement Research, Vol. 37

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