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Excavations at Caherconnell Cashel, a ringfort in the Burren in western Ireland, reveal an often overlooked side of medieval life: leisure. Game pieces, a writing quill and tuning pegs from musical instruments, dated to the 11th century, point to a comfortable family life open to the wider world, as reported in an article published by The Conversation and republished by Phys.org.
A ringfort at the heart of the Burren
Caherconnell Cashel is a ringfort, a fortified farmstead made up of houses and workshops enclosed by a well-preserved circular dry-stone wall. These settlements typically housed a single family, sometimes several generations.
According to the researchers who led the excavations, the site was home to affluent local notables from the late 10th century to the early 17th century, making it a valuable window onto everyday life over the long term.
Game pieces in bone, bronze and stone
Board games were probably very widespread, but their boards, made of wood, leather or textile, almost always disappear. At Caherconnell, however, a few pieces have survived, made of bone, antler, metal, clay and stone.
One of the most complete is a barrel-shaped, polished antler game piece dating to the 11th century. A bronze rod runs through its hollow core. It may have belonged to a hnefatafl-type game, popular among Saxons and Vikings, which reached Ireland around the 9th or 10th centuries and combined strategy with entertainment.
A quill for writing, a sign of literacy
Among the most remarkable finds is an 11th-century quill combining bone and bronze. Its hollow shaft, probably cut from the bone of a waterbird, was identified through experimental comparison, thanks to the work of archaeologist Adam Parsons, as likely coming from a swan's wing.
A slender bronze tip is fitted into the narrow end. No identical object is known in Ireland or elsewhere, and its secular context is unprecedented. Until now, traces of early writing on the island were concentrated mainly in monasteries and ecclesiastical sites.
Music and instrument pegs
Wooden musical instruments rarely survive. The excavations have nonetheless yielded bronze and bone tuning pegs, two of which are clearly associated with stringed instruments. They have a circular shaft that widens into a rectangular head, and a perforated end to secure the string. The bone example still bears the imprint of the metal wire.
Both pegs date to the 11th century but belonged to different instruments. Short pegs are usually associated with lyres, lutes and fiddles. No lute or fiddle has survived from early Ireland, but the lyre is attested by depictions and by Irish literature, which mentions music in both secular and religious settings.
A traditional society open to the world
Caherconnell reflects a society attached to ancestry and genealogy, yet connected to the outside world. Its occupants adopted and adapted the cultural elements most desired in their era.
The authors note that the objects found prove these activities existed without indicating how frequent they were. It is likely that all social classes took part, but that such pursuits leave fewer visible traces for archaeologists.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Irish ringfort?
A ringfort is a circular fortified farmstead, surrounded by an earthen bank or wall, typical of early medieval Ireland. It usually housed an extended family with its houses and workshops. Caherconnell is a particularly well-preserved example.
What leisure activities were practised in medieval Ireland?
The excavations at Caherconnell Cashel reveal board games, such as hnefatafl-type pieces, writing with a quill, and music, thanks to pegs from stringed instruments. These traces remain rare because perishable materials decay.
Why do game pieces and instruments survive so rarely?
Wood, leather and textiles decompose quickly in the soil. Only objects made of bone, antler, metal or stone generally survive the centuries, which skews our view of past leisure.
Where can you see medieval Irish objects?
Irish archaeological collections and Burren sites offer access to these remains. It is advisable to check opening hours and current exhibitions with the relevant institutions before visiting.
Sources
- Archaeological finds at an Irish fort reveal insights into the finer side of medieval life — Phys.org
Original summary written with the help of artificial intelligence from the sources cited, checked automatically, then translated from the French original. Information and quotations belong to their authors. Read the French original.
