Nationalism in Ireland: Archaeology, Myth, and Identity
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University of Mississippi eGrove Electronic Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 2013 Nationalism In Ireland: Archaeology, Myth, And Identity Elaine Kirby Tolbert University of Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Tolbert, Elaine Kirby, "Nationalism In Ireland: Archaeology, Myth, And Identity" (2013). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 362. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/362 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at eGrove. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of eGrove. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Nationalism in Ireland: Archaeology, Myth, and Identity A Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology The University of Mississippi by: Elaine Tolbert May 2013 Copyright Elaine Tolbert 2013 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ABSTRACT A nation is defined by a collective identity that is constructed in part through interpretation of past places and events. In this paper, I examine the links between nationalism and archaeology and how the past is used in the construction of contemporary Irish national identity. In Ireland, national identity has been influenced by interpretation of ancient monuments, often combining the mythology and the archaeology of these sites. I focus on three celebrated monumental sites at Navan Fort, Newgrange, and the Hill of Tara, all of which play prominent roles in Irish mythology and have been extensively examined through archaeology. I examine both the mythology and the archaeology of these sites to determine the relationship between the two and to understand how this relationship between mythology and archaeology influences Irish identity. It is also the purpose of this paper to discuss for what political purpose these sites have been used such as political events or the creation of a collective memory of the Irish people. The mythological stories of Navan Fort and Tara are still very present in Irish society and it is this presence of mythology which has led Tara, in particular, to often be the symbolic setting for political rallies and protests ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to express my appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Matthew Murray and my committee members, Dr. Jay Johnson, and Dr. Ahmet Yukleyen. iii Table of Contents ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .............................................................................................................. ii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... viii INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................1 Research and Significance ...........................................................................................................2 Background ..................................................................................................................................5 Methods........................................................................................................................................9 Thesis Organization ...................................................................................................................11 LITERATURE REVIEW ..............................................................................................................14 Introduction ................................................................................................................................14 Identity and Ethnicity .................................................................................................................14 Nation and Nationalism .............................................................................................................16 Monuments, Landscape and Identity .........................................................................................21 What is Landscape ................................................................................................................21 Monuments in the Landscape ...............................................................................................23 Monuments and Identity .......................................................................................................25 Archaeology and Nationalism....................................................................................................26 The Abuse of Archaeology is Nazi Germany ............................................................................38 Archaeology and Nationalism in Ireland ...................................................................................39 Summary ....................................................................................................................................47 METHODS ....................................................................................................................................48 DATA AND ANALYSIS ..............................................................................................................52 History of Ireland .........................................................................................................................52 Hill of Tara ...................................................................................................................................53 History of Investigation .....................................................................................................54 Archaeology of Tara ..........................................................................................................56 Mythology of Tara .............................................................................................................60 Kingship of Tara ................................................................................................................61 Tara and Christianity..........................................................................................................63 Tara after “Abandonment” .................................................................................................64 Analysis of Tara .................................................................................................................66 v Newgrange ...................................................................................................................................74 Early Research at Newgrange ............................................................................................76 Archaeology of Newgrange ...............................................................................................78 Mythology of Newgrange and the Brú na Bóinne .............................................................84 Significance of Newgrange ................................................................................................86 Analysis of Newgrange ......................................................................................................86 Navan Fort ...................................................................................................................................90 Location and Date of Navan Fort.......................................................................................91 Archaeology and History ...................................................................................................93 The Forty Meter Structure .....................................................................................96 Historical Interpretations at Navan Fort ................................................................98 Mythology of Navan Fort ..................................................................................................99 Archaeology versus Mythology at Navan Fort ....................................................100 Analysis of Navan Fort ....................................................................................................102 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................109 vi Summary ....................................................................................................................................109 Myth and Landscape ........................................................................................................110 Memory and History ........................................................................................................111 Archaeology and Tara, Newgrange, and Navan Fort ......................................................111 Discussion ..................................................................................................................................114 Future Research .........................................................................................................................117 Closing Thoughts .......................................................................................................................118 LIST OF REFERENCES .............................................................................................................120