People have been living on the island of Ireland for the last 10,000 years. This module tells that human story from early hunter-gatherer times to the present. We will follow the footprints of people through time by means of the spectacular archaeological heritage that is such a central feature of the Irish landscape. This rich and diverse record of monuments, landscapes and objects is explored and interpreted to provide a narrative of the lifestyles of people in the past.
You will study the first settlement of the island, the establishment of farming and the building of monuments like Newgrange. We explore Ireland’s place of in the Celtic world and the lasting impacts of the introduction of Christianity. The richness of the historic archaeological allows us to paint a vivid picture of life and society in medieval times and the emergence of modern Ireland.
This is an accessible module aimed at students across the range of disciplines and programmes in UCD. It will provide you with a clear understanding of Ireland’s past, the Irish landscape and key times of innovation and change.