Hostname: page-component-cb9f654ff-plnhv Total loading time: 0.001 Render date: 2025-09-04T18:07:03.207Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Human osteoarchaeology in Ireland: past, present and future

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Eileen M. Murphy
Eileen M. Murphy*
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology & Palaeoecology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland. eileen.murphy@qub.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Introduction

The archaeological study of human skeletal remains has been undertaken in Ireland since the mid 19th century. This paper examines the development of human bone studies in Ireland up until the present day, reviews the various approaches which have been adopted, and takes a look at the formal structure of the discipline within an Irish contcxt. The objective is to provide an overview of the study of archaeological human skeletal remains in Ireland from the 19th century through to modern times.

Keywords

human skeletonsosteoarchaeologypalaeopathologyIreland

Information

Type
Special section: Archaeology in Ireland
Information
Antiquity , Volume 76 , Issue 292 , June 2002 , pp. 512 - 517
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Borlase, W.C., 1897. The Dolmens of Ireland 3. London: Chapman & Hall.Google Scholar
Bradley, D., & Hill, E.. 2000. What’s in a surname? – Ceneticists reply, Archaeology Ireland 14(4): 22–3.Google Scholar
Brannon, N.F., Williams, B.B. & Wilkinson, J.L.. 1990 (published 1991). The salvage excavation of Bronze Age cists, Straid Townland, County Londonderry, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 53: 29–39 (3rd series).Google Scholar
Brothwell, D., 1985. Variation in Early Irish Populations: A Brief Survey of the Evidence, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 48: 5–9 (3rd series).Google Scholar
Brothwell, D., 1987. Human remains from Shanco, Co. Fermanagh, in Williams, B., A Bronze Age Burial at Shanco, County Fermanagh, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 50: 135–6 (3rd series).Google Scholar
Buckley, L., 1991. Study of the human skeletal remains from a cemetery at Kilshane, Co. Dublin. Unpublished M.Sc thesis, Department of Archaeology, Queen’s University Belfast.Google Scholar
Buckley, L., 1996. Human skeletal remains, in Halpin, E., Excavations at St Mary d’Urso. Drogheda, County Louth, Co. Louth Archaeological and Historical Journal 23: 495–504.Google Scholar
Buckley, L., 1997. Bronze Age backache, Archaeology Ireland 1(1): 13.Google Scholar
Buckley, L., (Ed.). 1998. Irish Section News of the Paleopathology Association No. 1.Google Scholar
Buckley, L., (Ed.). 2000. Irish Section News of the Paleopathology Association No. 3.Google Scholar
Buckley, L., & Buckley, V.. 1999. Ashes to ashes: the archaeology of cremation, Archaeology Ireland 13(4): 24–8.Google Scholar
Buckley, L., Murphy, E. & ÓDonnabháin, B.. 1998. Decommissioning our dead, Archaeology Ireland 12(4): 18–19.Google Scholar
Buckley, L., Murphy, E. & ÓDonnabháin, B.. 1999. Irish Association for Professional Archaeologists Technical Paper No. 1: The Treatment of Human Remains. Dublin: IAPA.Google Scholar
Buckley, L., & ÓDonnabháin, B.. 1992. Trephination: early cranial surgery in Ireland, Archaeology Ireland 6(4): 10–12.Google Scholar
Conway, M., 1999. Director’s firsi findings from excavations in Cabinteely. Dublin: Margaret Gowan and Company.Google Scholar
Cooney, G., 2000. Genes and Irish origins, Archaeology Ireland 14(2): 29.Google Scholar
Coscrave, U., 1998. Stacumny House, Celbridge, in Bennett, I. (ed.), Excavations 1997: summary accounts of archaeological excavations in Ireland: 91–2. Wicklow: Wordwell.Google Scholar
Delaney, M., 1974. The examination of bone from an archaeological viewpoint, in Scott, B.G. (ed.), Perspectives in Irish Archaeology: 41–5. Belfast: Organisation of Young Irish Archaeologists.Google Scholar
Dennehy, E.A., & Lynch, L.G.. 2001. Unearthed secrets: a clandestine burial-ground, Archaeology Ireland 15(4): 20–23.Google Scholar
Donnelly, C.J., 1997. Living places: archaeology, continuity and change at historic monuments in Northern Ireland. Belfast: Institute of Irish Studies, Queen’s University Belfast.Google Scholar
Donnelly, S., Donnelly, C. & Murphy, E.. 1999. The forgotten dead: The cilliní and disused burial grounds of Ballintoy, County Antrim, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 58: 109–13 (3rd series).Google Scholar
Duffy, S., (ed.). 2001. Medieval Dublin II: Proceedings of the Friends of Dublin Symposium 2000. Dublin: Four Courts Press.Google Scholar
Frazer, W., 1890–91. A contribution to Irish Anthropology, Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 21: 391–404.Google Scholar
Gilmore, S., & Murphy, E.. 2001. Reconstructing the dead man’s face — a violent death from Medieval Armagh, Archaeology Ireland 15(2): 16–18.Google Scholar
Grattan, J., 1853. On the Importance to the Anthropologist and Ethnologist of an Accurate Method of measuring Human Crania and of recording the Results; with a Description of a new Craniometer, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 1: 198–208 (1st series).Google Scholar
Haddon, A.C., 1896–98. Studies in Irish Craniology: III — A Neolithic cist burial at Oldbridge, in the county of Meath, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 4: 570–85.Google Scholar
Hill, E., Bradley, D. & Jobling, M.. 2000. Y-chromosome variation and Irish origins, Nature 404: 351–2.Google Scholar
Howells, W.W., 1941. The Early Christian Irish: the skeletons at Gallen Priory, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 46C: 103–219.Google Scholar
Hughes, C., Heylings, D.J.A. & Power, C.. 1996. Transverse (Harris) lines in Trish archaeological remains. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 101: 115–31.Google Scholar
Hurl, D.P., & Murphy, E.M.. 1996. Life and death in a County Antrim tower house, Archaeology Ireland 10(2): 20–23.Google Scholar
Hurley, M., 2000. Work of sub-committees formed to review and comment on Heritage Council reports, IAPA Newsletter 33: 7–9.Google Scholar
Keating, D., 2001. An analysis of the human skeletal remains at Colp, Co. Meath, and their contribution to the Early Christian period in Ireland. Unpublished M.Sc thesis, Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford.Google Scholar
Lynch, L., 1998. Placeless souls: bioarchaeology and separate burial in Ireland. Unpublished MA thesis, Department of Archaeology, University College Cork.Google Scholar
Macalister, R.A.S., 1921. Ireland in pre-Celtic times. Dublin: Maunsel & Roberts.Google Scholar
Mallory, J.P., & ÓDonnahhÁin, B.. 1998. The origins of the population of Ireland: a survey of putative immigrations in Irish prehistory and history, Emania 17: 47–81.Google Scholar
Martin, CP., 1935. Prehistoric man in Ireland. London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Mclougiilin, E.P., 1950. Report on the anatomical investigation of the skeletal remains unearthed at Castleknock in the excavation of an Early Christian Cemetery in the snmmer of 1938. Dublin: The Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Mount, C., 1997. Early Bronze Age burial in south-east Ireland in the light of recent research, Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 97C: 3–193.Google Scholar
Murphy, E.M., 1994. An examination of the human remains from the Early Christian cemetery of Solar, Co. Antrim. Unpublished M.Sc thesis, Department of Archaeology & Prehistory, University of Sheffield.Google Scholar
Murphy, E.M., 1996. A possible case of hydrocephalus in a Medieval juvenile from Doonbought Fort, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 6: 435–42.Google Scholar
Murphy, E.M., (Ed.). 1999. Irish Section News of the Paleopathology Association No. 2.Google Scholar
Murphy, E.M., (Ed.). 2001. Irish Section News of the Paleopathology Association No. 4.Google Scholar
Murphy, E., & Manchester, K.. 1998. ‘Bethou dead to the world’ — palaeopathological evidence for leprosy in Ireland from Armoy, Co. Antrim, Archaeology Ireland 12(1): 12–14.Google Scholar
Murphy, E., & Manchester, K.. 2002. Evidence for leprosy in Medieval Ireland, in Roberts, C.A., Pálfi, G., Dutour, O. & Lewis, M. (ed.), Leprosy past and present. Proceedings of the 3rd International Congress on the evolution and palaeoepidemiology of infectious diseases. Oxford: Archaeopress. (BAR International Series)Google Scholar
Murphy, E.M., & Mcneill, T.E.. 1993 (published 1996). Human remains excavated at Doonbought Fort, Co. Antrim, 1969, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 56: 120–38.Google Scholar
ÓDonnabháin, B., 1995. Monuments of shame: some probable trophy heads from Mediaeval Dublin. Archaeology Ireland 9(4): 12–15.Google Scholar
ÓDonnabháin, B., 2001. A cut above: cranial surgery in medieval Dublin, in Duffy, (ed.): 216–32.Google Scholar
áÓDonnabháin, B., & HallgrÍmsson, B.. 2001. Dublin: the biological identify uf the Hiberno-Norso town, in Duffy, (ed.): 65–87.Google Scholar
O’donovan, J.F., 1985. The human remains from Tintern Abbey, Co. Wexford. Unpublished MA thesis, Department of Archaeology, University College Cork.Google Scholar
O’sullivan, J., 2001. Biscuits, bread and fishes — a data famine in times of plenty, Archaeology Ireland 15(4): 33–4.Google Scholar
Power, C., 1984. Anthropological studies on the dental remains from some Irish archaeological sites. Unpublished MA thesis, Department of Archaeology, LIniversity College Cork.Google Scholar
Power, C., 1985/6. Diet and disease: evidence from the human dental remains in two Medieval Irish populations, Journal of Irish Archaeology 3: 49–53.Google Scholar
Power, C., 1990. Dental anthropology, Archaeology Ireland 4(4): 26–8.Google Scholar
Power, C., 1992. Medieval Waterford — a possible case of syphilis, Archaeology Ireland 6(4): 20–21.Google Scholar
Power, C., 1993 (published 1996). Reconstructing patterns of health and dietary change in Irish prehistoric populations, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 56 9–17.Google Scholar
Power, C., 1994 (published 1997). A demographic study of the human skeletal populations from historic Munster, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 57: 95–118.Google Scholar
Power, C., & O’sullivan, V.R.. 1992. Rickets in nineteenth century Waterford, Archaeology Ireland 6(1): 27.Google Scholar
Roberts, C., Boylston, A., Buckley, L., Chamberlain, A. & Murphy, E.. 1998. Rib lesions and tuberculosis: the palaeo-pathological evidence, Tubercle and Lung Disease 79: 55–60.Google Scholar
Walmsley, T., 1923. A trephined Irish skull, Man 23: 180.Google Scholar
Walmsley, T., & Mogey, J.M.. 1939. The peoples of Northern Ireland: an anthropometric survey, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 2: 89–97 (3rd series).Google Scholar
Walmsley, T., Mogey, J.M. & Gamble, D.P.. 1942. The peoples of Northern Ireland: an anthropometric survey. 2. The town and district of Ballymoney, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 5: 98–118 (3rd series).Google Scholar
Walmsley, T., Mogey, J.M. & Gamble, D.P.. 1943. The peoples of Northern Ireland: an anthropometric survey. 3. The town and district of Ballycastle, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 6: 112–25 (3rd series).Google Scholar
Walmsley, T., Mogey, J.M. & Gamble, D.P.. 1946. The peoples of Northern Ireland: an anthropometric survey. 4. The town and district of Ballymena, Ulster Journal of Archaeology 9: 80–117 (3rd series).Google Scholar
Weets, J.D., 2001. Ancient Irish dental variation: research on issues of migration and population continuity, American Journal of Physical Anthropology (Annual Meeting Issue 2001, Supplement 32): 162.Google Scholar
Woodman, P., 2000. Ancient DNA — don’t panic, Archaeology Ireland 14(4): 20–22.Google Scholar