Update

Hi!
Its been a year since I sat my mocks and so much has happened :D I'd like to remind everyone whos struggling with it right now that you should rest for a few weeks after them and then give one final push to your studies at the end. Dont lose heart, it will soon be over and you will be mooving into a new and exciting part of your life.
I will try my best to put up some more notes in the future and maybe make some video ones too!
Good luck!

Newgrange

Hey dudes! Here's my Newgrange notes :D I made these a long time ago, but i just updated them quickly. Mo xxx

Pre-Christian Ireland- Stone age

Neolithic Age 3700-2000 B.C.

Around 3700 B.C. the hunter gatherers and fishermen were replaced with people from central Europe, who travelled to Ireland through England or Scotland. What we know about these farmers comes from their stone graves called megalithic tombs. They placed importance on life after death by building imposing resting placed for the dead rather than for the living.

These people were organised farmers with complex social groups. They brought livestock with them, they cleared forests and the whole island had regular contact with land overseas.

The people who made Newgrange were intelligent and organised, farmers and had a good knowledge of astronomy. They set a lot of importance on ritual symbolism.

They used the river to transport materials, therefore had good knowledge of engineering. They lived in wattle and daub huts.

Megalithic (large stone) Burial Monuments

• Portal Dolmen

Ex. Poulnabrone, Burren Landscape, Co. Clare

       Ardara, Co. Donegal

170 in total around Ireland

Between 3 and 7 standing stones supporting 1 or 2 capstones

Single slabs rested against back to form the chamber.

• Court Cairns

Most court cairns are found in the northern part of Ireland

Has a rectangular or circular burial chamber, with a corbelled roof.

The chamber would serves as the tomb and the court would hold the rituals

• Passage Graves

1 or 2 chambers in the centre of a large mound of earth or stone, reached by a passage.

Newgrange

Located in the Boyne Valley Co. Meath

Constructed around 3000-2000

• Structure

11m in height and 85m in diameter

The passage is 21m long, it is lines and roofed with large stones and slopes gently upwards.

There is one main chamber and 3 niches, with stone basins

Roof of chamber is corbelled, layers of flattish stone in circles, each layer moving further inwards than the one below, until closed by single stone at the top. Stones tilted downwards to stop water entering the chamber

Once there stood 32 standing stones (monoliths) now there are only 12, believed to be used for astronomical observations. Now believed not to be contemporary with the mound.

97 kerbstones form the perimeter of the mound and a wall of white quartz stone stands on top. 

• Function

Burial chamber, evidence of at least 5 burials being preformed

Used for ceremonies and rituals

Burial chamber lights upon the 21^st of December, which also helped it function as a calendar to the people.

Number of cremated remains found is relatively small compare to the size of the community and the length of time for which the mounds were used. This suggests that only important members of the community were buried there or that they were ritual or sacrificial burials.

Some believe tat the designs on the stones relate to the movements of sun, moon and planets, which would have been a way to keep track of the seasons and important community events

• Technique

The building of a large structure like Newgrange was a momentous task for people of the Stone Age as their technology was limited to what hey could carry, pull or lever into place, and there was no animals to carry the burdens and the when was not invented yet. It is believed that they may have used logs to roll the kerbstones which weighed up to 5 tons across the probably forested countryside. It has been estimated that it could have taken 80 men three weeks per kerbstone to travel the 15 km from the quarry from which the stones were taken, which works out about o be 50 years for one mound ant this rate.

The Stone Age people obviously from there amazing commitment had a very deep belief in the meaning and function of these tombs, as they were not even used for their own benefit of shelter. It also suggests that the society was well established and they had time to make wondrously huge tombs.

Construction probably began with the layout of the passages as their orientation to the sun was an essential part of the purpose. The line kerb would have been laid out early on as it was the retaining structure for the body of the mound.

• Decoration

Decoration mainly consisted of geometric motifs; circles, spirals, arcs, zig zags, lozenges, diamonds, dots in circles , wavy parallel or radial lines, concentric circles and rectangles. The entire stone was pitched first with a fine point to remove the original weathered surface. They used a stone hammer and a pointed flint stone and this was called chip and flint carving.

Entrance stone

Carved with pointed flint stone and hammer, the channels on this are 4cm wide.

On the far left there are lozenges, and as we move right we can see a triple spiral, then two double spirals surrounded by waves, curves and zig zags.

Kerbstone 52

Situated opposite the entrance stone. Highly decorated but less harmoniously than the entrance stone. Consists of 3 sections. Diamonds on the bottom left, spirals on the top left and group of concentric circles with dots and rectangles

Above the entrance to the passage there is a roof box, the lintel above this is decorated with radiating triangle carvings.

Bronze Age

Heres the Bronze Age notes, again sorry for no pictures :S

Bronze Age

• 2000B.C.-500B.C.
• Early 2000BC-1500BC, Middle 1500BC-1200BC, Late 1200BC-500BC
• Evidence of a new culture coming to Ireland to the north and east of the country
• Beaker people came from mainland Europe in search of copper and gold deposits made different types of burial, stone-lined cist graves
• Bronze Age decoration was a combination of basic geometric shapes with the most up to date technology of the time. Metal was cast, hammered, twisted and cut into shape. Bronze Age artists created designs by mechanical means using a compass and a straight edge rather than the freehand designs of the Stone Age
• Mining evidence in Vale of Avoca in Co. Wicklow and in the Mourne Mountains. Gold was probably found in nuggets or by panning alluvial deposits in rivers.
• Copper was mined by roasting ore bearing rocks with fire and then cracking them by throwing cold water on it. It was smelted and the molten copper poured into stone moulds.
•  As technology progresses Tin was used, imported from Britain and mixed with the copper to make Bronze which is stronger and can hold a sharp edge longer.
• Trumpets shields weapons and tools were made from bronze.
• Early artefacts made from a single piece of gold which was incised or used the Repoussé technique (pattern pushed out from the back)
• Circles, dots triangles and straight lines were combines in various ways.

Sun Disc

Tedavent Co. Monahan

• Function Two holes near the centre suggest that the discs might have been sown onto a garment or belt. Probably worn by someone of importance of stature in society.
• Structure Circular in shape, 11cm in diameter, Flat sheet of gold.
• Decoration a cross shape made from dots in the centre (not Christian symbolism) surrounded by concentric circles of bands of dots and chevrons.
• Careful craftsmanship as thin sheet of gold could tear.

Lunula

Middle Bronze Age

Dated After 1800 BC.

Often plain but sometimes decorated with incised lines.

Ross Co. Westmeath

• Function Neck collar, probably worn as a status.
• Structure Made of gold hammered into a thin sheet and cut into shape. Flat piece of gold in a  symmetrical crescent moon shape. Paddle shaped end slightly thicker than rest and can be bended to form a locking device. 20cm across.
• Decoration Pattern concentrated on narrow ends of crescent. Chevrons and lines outlining on the perimeter. Three sets of parallel lines of cross hatching with a lines of triangles either side

Torcs

1400 BC onwards (Bishopsland Phase)

Varity of different forms

Long torc at Tara co. Meath

Ribbon torc found near Belfast

• Function Worn around the neck, waist, arms or as earrings.
• Structure made from twisted gold. Ribbon Torc made out of a strip of flat god twisted into an even spiral. Flanged torc made by hammering flanges out from the angles of square or triangular bars before twisting, can be varied by varying the lengths of the flanges. Bar torc a twisted square, round or triangular.

Late Bronze age (Golden age, Dowris Age)

After 800BC there was upsurge in metal work in Ireland

Fibula

Clones, Co. Monaghan

• Function Used as a dress fastener, some were very heavy, so may have only been used for ceremonial use.

• Structure 21.5 cm long, Made from a kilo of solid gold. Gold bow or handle connected to a two gold hemispheres.

 Handle cast in mould, flat metal hammered into shape for the cups then soldered together.

• Decoration Decorated with rows of small concentric circles with a hollow in the centre of each. Area where bow joins has incised triangles and bands of lines. Unadorned handle

Gorget

Gleninsheen Gorget found in Burren, Co. Clare

800-700BC

• Function Worn on neck as a high status symbol probably for ceremonial uses. Fastened around neck by cord attached to the ends of the collar.
• Structure Semicircular collar with a gold disc at either end. The discs were made from two layers with the edges of the larger back disc wrapped over the front to create a finished edge. The discs were attached to the collar by sewing with gold thread. To finish the raw edges of the collar narrow strip of gold was rolled all around the edge.
• Decoration Crescent shaped body decorated with rows of decorated bands alternatively rope and smooth plain patterned. On the discs, 11 incised concentric circles surround a large concentric circle with a conical boss in the centre. Beads surround the perimeter and the centre concentric circle. Smooth and textured patterns on the surface capture the light beautifully.

Lock Rings

Uniquely Irish

Gorteenreagh Co. Clare

Discovered along with a hoard of other artefacts including gold collar and gold bracelets

• Function Used as hair ornaments. Plait of hair slipped through opening and turned out of line to hold the hair in place. Hair held in place by protruding bosses from tube in centre.
• Structure Double cone shape with a narrow opening down one side, bound together by a band of gold. They have a diameter of 10 cm and length of 5 cm.
• Decoration cone made up of fine gold wires soldered together

High Crosses

I do High Crosses as my Irish Art History and my Gallery Question, as I went to see the Irish High Crosses exhibition in Collins Baracks. That's why the Ahenny crosses and Monasterboice are in so much detail. the others are just there if a developmental question comes up :) It's not all the high crosses on the LC course but hopefully enough. No pictures I'm afraid sorry :(

High Crosses

Structure:

Consist of a large pyramid base, a tall shaft, 3 arms, a wheel head and a, usually church shaped, capstone.

Monks made them using a hammer and chisel.

Most crosses were made from Sandstone.

Strapwork- thick lines.

Zoomorphic-animals that snake into strap work.

They are read from bottom, a kneeling pilgrim’s eye level, to top.

Function:

• They were a symbol to the Christian community of the resurrection of Christ.
  Respect for this symbolism gave the crosses an importance as land markers of the boundaries of sanctuary and sacred areas in the monastery and may have been meeting places by the local community.
• Some crosses were thought to symbolise local saints by characterising them on the cross by depicting Old Testament figures with similar traits of the saint, as there was a strong devotion to a Saint’s memories in early Christian Ireland.
• Used as teaching aids to teach people bible stories as many were illiterate.
• High crosses were displays of wealth
• The figures on the crosses conveyed the teaching s of Christianity but also contain insights into the 9^th century world of stonemasons, the styles of dress ansd hair are depicte long with chariots books crosiers, swords and processional crosses.

Development: 

• Originally Pagans believed in spirits in stones and would not interfere with the shape of the stone.
• Carved Pillars
• Simple linear pattern carved into the surface of an untrimmed stone.
• Used to mark graves of important people.
• 4^th and 5^th century.
• Sometimes have Ogham, Irish or Latin inscriptions.
• These developed in two ways, into grave slabs and into high crosses
• Except for the Christian symbolism, most elements of these stones were in the La Téne style.
• Reask Pillar (Dingle peninsula, Co. Kerry)

• Incised.
• Maltese cross surrounded by a circle.
• Pattern of spirals extends down ending in a pelta shape.
• Inscribed with the letters DNE probably standing for the Latin word Domine meaning ‘Lord god’ or ‘Lord Abbot’

•  Fahan Mura Slab(Co. Donegal)
• 7^th century
• 2.10m tall.
• Low relief intricate and elaborate ribbon interlaces forms a cross shape on both sides.
• Simple human figures stand at the left and right of the cross shaft on the west side.
• First time the shape of the slab changes, shows a hint of arms developing from the stubs projecting from the side of the slab.
• Shows advance in skills.

• Cardonagh Cross (Co. Donegal)
• Transitional piece between stone pillars and the fully formed Celtic high crosses. It is the first cross to be cut in a cruciform shape.
• 2.5m tall.
• It is carved on all sides into a simple, slightly uneven cross shape. On the shaft there is a crucifixion scene.
• Ribbon interlace forms a cross in the upper part of the stone with two little groups of birds forming a triskele pattern in the crook of each arm.
• Two small pillars beside the cross are carved with figures. David playing the harp and Jonah and the whale

•  Crosses became larger and more complex in structure and the shafts were divided into orderly depictions of bible scenes.

• By the 8^th century, the first fully formed high crosses had developed featuring a wheel head, pyramid shaped base and a cap.

Cross of Moone

• 7m tall, second tallest cross in Ireland, height emphasised by the narrow shaft and small wheel head.
• Very unique design of cross, differs from other contemporary crosses.
• Symbolic figures rather than realistic, in low relief.
• No capstone. Granite.
• Tall base, almost square shaped, has figure scenes on every side, in a logical order, unusually top to bottom, in a clockwise direction around base. Square bodies with large heads and big noses, geometrical.
• East side
•  Centre of cross- Christ in Majesty
• Shaft- Spirals and other abstract designs
• Base- Adam and Eve are under a stylised tree with the serpent coiling around the trunk. Below is the Sacrifice of Isaac as Abraham leans over the sacrificial altar to kill his son. Below this is the scene of Daniel in the lion pit with 7 lions.
• West side
• Centre of cross- Spiral pattern
• Shaft- Panels containing animals
• Base- crucifixion scene with the sponge bearer and spear bearer beneath Christ's figure. The 12 apostles are below this, three rows of simple figures without individual detail.

• South Side
• Base- Three children in the fiery furnace protected by an angel. Below is the flight into Egypt. Below that, there is the miracle of the loaves and the fishes using large circles to represent the bread.

Ahenny Crosses

• Pair of unique crosses located on the river valley of Carrick-on-Suir in Co. Tipperary.
• Shaft and arms are decorated with curves, knotting, fretwork and spirals of very high quality, which have a close relationship to contemporary metalwork.
• There is a raised rope border surrounding the edges of the cross and the ring.
• There are 5 stone bosses in high relief, where the ring passes through the arms of the cross and at the centre of the cross, also thought to be inspired by metalwork
• Early 9^th century
• Sandstone
• Unusual conical shaped capstone
•  2 panels on the shaft

North cross

• 3.5m tall
• Panels on stepped base are in low relief and are worn and weathered, making them difficult to see clearly.
• Cross itself is decorated in abstract pattern including a human interlace on the west side of the shaft.
• Missing part of the wheel head
• Base- has human and animal figure scenes, believed to be based around the idea of the power of Gods gifts and intervention. Style is simple and non classical, more in Celtic tradition of symbolism rather than realism

West Base- 7 figures with crosiers=Christ’s mission to the apostles
East Base-Depicts a man sitting under a tree facing a group of animals= Adam being given domination over the animals

North Base- David charges into battle on a chariot

South Base- David carries goliaths head in a procession with goliaths headless body tied to a horse.

South Cross

• 3.35m
• Base even more difficult to make out

 Muirideachs Cross (Monasterboice Co. Louth)

• 9^th century
• Impressive achievement for its time. Artistically and technically the finest high cross in Ireland.
• 5.5m tall and shaft is 75cm wide, quite thick. Not the tallest but probably the weightiest. Except the cap and the base, carved out of one piece of stone.
• The theme of the cross is redemption, similar to many other crosses but the carving is much more detailed.
• Base is carved in low relief into panels, some are decorated and some have animal and horsemen scenes.
• East face(Old Testament)
• 4 panels
• Bottom to top: Adam and Eve with Cain killing Abel. David and Goliath, and Saul an Jonathan. Moses striking the rock to provide water for a large group of Israelites. Adoration of the Magi, where 4 kings come to visit the infant Christ.
• Centre is the Last Judgement, Christ is in the centre holding a staff and a spectre, representing power. To Christ's right facing him are the saved and David plays his harp and to his left is the Devil with a three pronged trident and the damned who’s faces are turned away from Christ.

• West (Scenes from Christ’s life)
• Two cats in high relief lie curled up over an inscription that asks us to ‘pray for Muirideach, who caused this cross to be made’.
• 3 panels on the shaft: The arrest of Christ- where he wears a brooch similar to the Tara brooch and the solider who looks like a Viking. Doubting Thomas. Chris giving the key to Peter and the book to Paul.
• Across the arms is the crucifixion scene, with a figure offering a sponge and another piercing Christ's left side a lance. Angels hover over each shoulder and pattern and bosses surround the scene. To the left is the denial of peter and to the right the resurrection
• North and south sides are narrow and are decorated with interlace on the shaft and figure scenes at the end of the arms and the top of the cross
• The fine detail of this cross is evident from the least weathered panels under the arms of the cross.
• Despite the number of figures and the amount of detail there is no sense of overcrowding.

 Tall Cross 

•  Over 7m tall 
•  Tallest cross in Ireland 
•  Largest number of figure scenes 
•  Scenes appear on all faces 
•  More animated but less detailed and less deeply carved than Muirideach’s Cross

Introduction

Hello, I'm Mo and this is my blog! :D

Right now I am a Leaving Certificate student in Ireland, and sometimes i find it difficult to get good notes. The worst subject has to be Art History, where i have 3 different books and 2 different sets of teacher's note and my essay book... it makes it very hard to revise :S

So, I've made my own notes,  I plan to upload them here for anyone who wants clear and full information for their LC. Some are to be scanned in, colourful in fountain pen, and some are plain and typed.

I cannot guarantee the accuracy of facts as i am merely compiling all the information i was given by textbooks and teachers. I really hope this blog helps people! :D

I study English, Irish, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Accounting, Art and Japanese so expect only notes from those subjects.... and even then don't expect good ones from English or Accounting DX
And of course i will take requests! :D

First up is my Art History Notes that i finished today on Irish High Crosses!

Ganbarimasu(do your best)
Mo xxxx