Burren Archaeology

The Burren in County Clare contains one of the densest concentrations of archaeological remains in Ireland. Its monuments illustrate the story of human activity since it began here nearly 10,000 years ago. Many people are daunted by the prospect of reading about ‘stones and bones’; this guide makes the stones and bones of the Burren understandable by telling the stories behind the monuments. Archaeology is ultimately about real people: whether they were cheeky monks at Corcomroe or arthritic farmers at Poulnabrone, people built or made these monuments and artefacts. Hugh Carthy relates what was happening in the Burren to events as far away as Iceland and Egypt and includes background information relevant to an understanding of Burren archaeology. This is followed by description of over 40 individual sites and monuments with full location information for all. This compact area contains a lot of archaeology, so it is ideal for those who want a whirlwind tour of 10,000 years of human activity.