- Ireland: A World without the Romans -
difficult not to suppose that included in their number were master-craftsmen from
abroad who played a part in the introduction of these complex innovations.
Archaeological studies of La Tene influences in Ireland tend to be preoccupied
with detailed typological and stylistic examination of fine metalwork and, in con-
sequence, our picture of the culture and the subsistence economy of the majority
population is seriously flawed. This is, of course, to a very large extent a result of
our continued inability to recognize the domestic habitation sites of the ordinary
people. We can take it, however, that agriculture and animal husbandry were the
main subsistence activities even though the details are scant. What little we can say
of the former generally confirms the widely held assumption that cattle were
dominant, though the surprisingly large percentage of pig bones at Navan Fort, Co.
Armagh, is worthy of note (Lynn 1986). A large series of beehive quernstones
(Caulfield 1977), a sickle and a number of wooden ards provide us with the principal
evidence for tillage. Apart from a few domestic containers of wood and bronze,
including a handful of cauldrons (Raftery 1984: 214ff.), there is little else in the
surviving record to inform us of the lives of the general population.
It is the ruling elite who are reflected most clearly in the archaeological remains.
The existence of a warrior aristocracy is certainly implied by the iron swords and the
ornate scabbards referred to above. The shortness of the sword blades is, however,
surprising and suggests that they were weapons of limited effectiveness (Raftery
1984: 62-73). Spears were also in use and their wooden shafts were often adorned
with bronze butts of knobbed, tubular or conical shape (Raftery 1982, 1984: 110-28).
A complete rectangular shield of leather-covered wood from a bog at Clonoura,
Co. Tipperary (Raftery 1984: 129-33), its surface clearly battle-scarred, helps us
dramatically to complete the picture of the fighting man's gear in La Tene Ireland.
There can be little doubt of the importance of the horse among the upper echelons
of society at this time. Well over one hundred bridle-bits are known and at least
another hundred fittings exist, including the curious, uniquely Irish Y-shaped
objects, which are associated with the horse (Figure 33.4) (Raftery 1984: 15ff.). The
bits have three-link mouthpieces and, with three or four exceptions, are all of cast
bronze. Frequently the links are embellished with elegant curvilinear patterns or with
enamel inlays. It is clear that these were prized and valuable objects, for great
care and effort were expended to repair them, often repeatedly, after they became
damaged through wear.
The majority of the bridle-bits are isolated specimens and from this it may be
suggested that they were associated with riding. The wheel was, however, known by
La Tene times, as is shown by the pair of block wheels found at Doogarymore,
Co. Roscommon, for which there are radiocarbon dates centred on the fourth
century Be (Lucas 1972). Wheeled transport is otherwise difficult to infer from the
archaeological record (Raftery 1984: 57ff.). In a few instances matching pairs of
horsebits have been found, indicating the use of paired draught, and the same is
implied by examples with asymmetric decoration. Further indications of vehicular
transport are provided by a bronze terret from Co. Antrim, a pair of possible
yoke mounts of bronze and a single linchpin of the same material. A wooden yoke
of probable Iron Age date from Co. Tyrone could also have been intended for a
horse-pair.