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A RICH HISTORY The Stone Age
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The
earliest settlers came to an island covered with trees (pine, birch,
hazel and willow) There was an abundance of wild animals for food,
and from archaeological excavations, we know that they lived almost
entirely by hunting. Their "houses" would have been something like
that above. Their clothes were probably of animal hides. There is
evidence to suggest that they spread widely throughout the country.
Farming began in Ireland about 4,000 BC, and for the first time
the inhabitants were not solely dependant on hunting for their food.
They used polished stone axes to clear areas of trees, to prepare
them for grazing and for crops. They used the timber to build houses
and fences to prevent their animals from predators such as wolves.
Their houses were made of timber, and insulated with clay (wattle
and daub). They had no chimney, and so were smoky, and dark.The Bronze Age
A technical revolution began in Ireland with the introduction of copper, and later bronze. This alloy of tin and copper could be beaten into different shapes or cast by pouring it into stone or clay moulds. A greater range of tools and implements were now available, and these were stronger and more durable than their stone predecessors. Stone weapons didn't, however, die out, but continued to be used along with the new tools for centuries.
These new tools and implements meant that farmers could buy more land and cultivate it better. There is evidence of well-developed field systems at this time, including the use of crop rotation. The sickle was introduced for the harvesting of corn and grass. The ox-drawn plough, and horse seem also to have been introduced to Ireland at this time. The Bronze Age in Ireland is notable for its wealth of gold ornaments, and the National Museum in Dublin boasts the finest collection of Gold in Western Europe.
The Celts Arrive.
