Applying for Loans It is essential to make a booking for all loans from the Handling Collection. At least two to three days notice is required by the Education and Outreach Officer but you are advised to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment. To borrow material, a list of items required should be telephoned or preferably emailed to the Education and Outreach Officer stating the date you wish to collect loans and when they will be returned. Items can be borrowed as themed groups or as individual pieces. Duration of Loans Objects may be borrowed for a period of time up to a maximum of one month. This time may be reduced subject to demand and waiting lists. Collection & Return of Loans Booked loans can be collected from and returned to the Museum between 9.15am and 4.00pm from Monday to Friday or on Saturday by prior agreement. Loans must be returned no later than 4.30 on the last day of the agreed loan period and must be accepted by a member of staff. It is essential to return the items on or before the agreed date to facilitate other bookings. Any borrower who retains material beyond the loan period may not be eligible for future loans. Archaeology 2 Transport 8 Communication 14 handling Household and Agriculture 18 collection Schools and Education 22 Politics and Conflict 24 28 Monaghan County Museum’s Natural History Handling Service was established in 1982, with a small number of items. Folklife 30 A successful application to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was made to Towns, Villages and Estates 34 expand this service. It has made it possible to greatly increase the Local People 40 number and variety of items available for loan. This service is available to schools, the community Time Capsules 46 and special interest groups. Locality Packs 48 1 13 19 15 2 3 16 Collection of hafted and unhafted bronze axe and spear heads 32 Collection of Crannóg related material 24 2 Archaeology Handling Collection 1 ‘Bann’ Flake 3 Stone Axe 5 American A Bann flake is a Heads Indian large, butt-trimmed, (1975.81/1976.15) leaf-shaped stone These were used to Arrowheads blade. Dating from cut down trees by the (1980.2A,C,O) the late Mesolithic early farmers in the These arrowheads, or middle Stone Age Neolithic Period which were found (4,500BC to Period (7000BC to in America and 2,500BC). Modern 4,500BC). They are subsequently experiments show the named after the river donated to the efficiency of such axe Bann in Northern museum, are very heads in cutting down Ireland and were similar to the type used as spearheads, trees. Early axeheads were hand held, used by Irish hunters which were attached however they were during the Neolithic (hafted) to wooden later mounted on Period (4,500BC to poles. wooden handles and 2,500BC) tied in place with 2 Plano-Convex leather straps. 6 Bronze Flat Stone Knife 4 Bronze Flat Axe Hafted From about 2,000BC Blade Axe Unhafted This particular type of the use of bronze in From about 2,000BC knife dates to the late axes took over from the use of bronze in Neolithic, early stone. These were axes took over from Bronze Age period attached or ‘hafted’ stone. These were (c. 2,500BC to onto handles made attached or ‘hafted’ 2,000BC). These from wood using onto handles made are quite long leaf twine and resin. from wood using shaped flint knifes or twine and resin blades. It would have (a sticky substance been used in the that comes from some cutting of corn or trees and used as other crops. glue). This example is unhafted. 3 5 7 Bronze Palstave Axe Unhafted This type of axehead has flanges and a stop-ridge to hold it firmly on its handle. This made it easier to use than earlier simple flat axeheads. Date c.1500BC 28 8 Bronze Palstave Axe Hafted This type of axehead 10 Bronze has flanges and a 11 Bronze stop-ridge to hold it Socketed Axe Spearhead firmly on its handle. Hafted (1975.185) This made it easier This is a kite-shaped Socketed axeheads to use than earlier spearhead with a like this one simple flat axeheads. socket, loops and high developed from older Date c.1500BC ridges on the blade. flat examples and The spear would were attached 9 Bronze have been mounted (hafted) to a curved on a long wooden Socketed wooden handle. The pole and attached loop was for tying Half-Moon with twine through both firmly together. the side loop. Spear Head Date c.1000BC Date c. 1000BC Large Bronze Spear Head, this example would have been 12 Bronze Socketed Axe Unhafted attached or ‘hafted’. Socketed axeheads like this one developed from Date c.1000BC older flat examples and were attached (hafted) to a curved wooden handle. The loop was for tying both firmly together. Date c.1000BC 4 13 Bronze 16 Tydavnet 18 Jigsaw Pot Side-Looped Sun Discs This is a replica funerary pot in pieces. A pair of gold Spear Head It gives people the “sundiscs” was found Kite-shaped opportunity to in the roots of an oak spearhead with piece the pot back tree in Tydavnet, socket, loops, and together. Broken County Monaghan high ridge on the pottery is one of the and purchased by the blade. The spear most common National Museum of would have been archaeoligcal finds as Ireland in 1872. These mounted on a long it does not decay. are replicas of the wooden pole and original sheet gold attached with twine discs. Decoration 19 Clay Spear through the side was achieved by loops. Date c.1000BC Mould using the “repoussé” Clay moulds were technique (hammered used in the same way 14 Bronze from the reverse side). as stone moulds for The discs date to the Basal-Looped the manufacture of Bronze Age objects. In the late Spear Head (2,500BC to 500BC) Bronze Age clay took This type of spear and were worn by over from stone as would have been Chieftains at the the material of choice used for hunting as shoulders where the as it was easier to well as warfare. cloak was pinned. work with. Date c.1000BC 17 Funerary Pot 15 Stone Spear These types of pots, Mould know as beakers, date to the Bronze Age and 31 Stone moulds were were typically found used in the Bronze with burials of that Age (2,500BC time. As with this to 500BC) for example, they were manufacturing objects decorated with such as spears and various designs. axes. Clay moulds Date c. 2500-500BC were also used. This is probably one half of a closed mould. 5 201ron Age Ring 26 Medieval 25 ‘Bratt’ Headed Pin Shoe (Pair) Cloak/Shawl This pin is made of These shoes were The term ‘bratt’ bronze and was used made with stitched derives from the old for fastening clothes. leather and were English slang for a Date. c.500BC worn only by the beggar’s child. In this wealthiest people in context it refers to 21 Iron Age society such as ragged cloak. local Chieftains Decorated Pin and their family. 26 Bone Double This decorated Date c. 1000AD clothing pin or hair pin Comb and is made from bronze. 24 Viking Sword Bone Single Date c. 500BC Hilted Sided Comb These types of combs 22Roman Lamp This type of sword was carried by were made from This replica lamp in Scandinavian bone. The decorated the Roman style c 1st sea-raiders, who are surfaces on the combs to 2nd century AD known as Vikings. show that they were was made from fired Viking swords were regarded as clay. Oil was poured made of iron with important items in the in and a wick was bone, leather or daily lives of their placed in the nozzle wooden handgrips, owners, who cared and lit to provide light. most examples of for their personal which are now appearance. Date c. decayed down to the 800–1000AD bare iron. The broad and long blade was good for thrusting as 27 well as slashing at an opponent. The hilt was used to both protect the hand and strike the enemy. Date c. 800–900AD 6 17 29Working Drop 32 Model Spindle and Crannóg Fleece Set Crannogs are man made islands found A drop spindle was a in lakes that are typical type of spindle accessible by boat or used in the medieval a hidden underwater era, in Ireland, to spin path. Due to the wool into thread for large amount of making clothes. shallow lakes in Date c. 800-1500AD Monaghan, there are over 80 recorded 30Medieval examples in the Riding Spurs County. A prominent 27 Amber & Blue These riding spurs example in Monaghan Glass Beads were made by the Town is Mullaghmon- aghan Crannóg in the These types of beads Lorimer (a person Convent Lake, which were worn as part of who specialised in belonged to the decorative necklaces making all the pieces McMahon clan. They and bracelets by of a horse harness). mostly date to the the wealthy local The Lorimer, in medieval era (400AD Chieftains and their medieval times, was to 1600AD). family. They were a of similar importance way of showing their to the Blacksmith. importance and Date c. 1200–1400AD 33 Assyrian position in society. Cuneiform Date c. 800-1000AD 31 Tuyére This unusual looking Tablet (1986.58) 28Wood, Bone clay nozzle was used This tablet is from to blow air into a Assur (Ashur), the and Stone smithing hearth where ancient capital of Spindle Whorl ore was being melted Assyria.