Neolithic Period (3800-2500 BC)

Neolithic Period (3800-2500 BC)

1. First Settlers - Hunter Gatherers, Nomadic before 3800 BC

   • 3800 BC New Group of Settlers
     • Farming, Cleared Forests, Built Houses and Tombs and Enclosed Fields
       • Neolithic People - skilled Engineering, Art, Building and Astonomy

2. Neolithic Art

   • Realism - not of interest
   • Symbolic Abstract Decoration

3. Tombs (Megalithic)

   • Constructed with large rocks
   • Dolmens
     • Single Burial Chamber
     • large horizontal capstone supported by three or more upright stones
     • used to be covered by earth or loose stones
     • Poulnabrone, Clare
   • Court Cairns
     • Oval, Circular or Semi-Circular Courtyard at Entrance leading into One or more Burial Chambers
     • no Decorated Stones
     • Burial Chambers - covered with a Corbelled Roof with a 'Cairn' of Loose Stones
     • Creevykeel, Sligo
   • Passage Tombs
     • Usually Situated on Elevated Ground
     • Found in Groups
     • Narrow Passage leading to Central Burial Chamber (sometimes several B.C's
     • Walls made from Upright Slabs Roof made from Horizontal Slabs
     • Corbelled Stone Roof
     • Usually covered by a Circular mound of Earth or Stones
     • Kerbstones - at Base of Mound Decorative Motifs
     • Newgrange
     • Functions of Passage Tombs
       • Hold Remains of Important People
         • Align with Sun for Solstices
           • Enact Sun Worship
             • Hold Pagan Rituals

4. Neolithic Rock Art

   • Abstract - doesn't represent things or people
     • Found on Kerbstones, Entrance Stones, Stone lining Burial Chambers and Passages and Stone Basins

5. Motifs

   • Found On
   • Curvilinear
     • Concentric Circles
     • Triskelle
     • Spirals ( anticlockwise and clockwise
     • Double Spiral
     • Dots in Circles
     • Serpentine
   • Rectilinear
     • Triangle
     • Zig Zag
     • Chevron
     • Lozenges

6. Stone Carving Techniques

   • Dressing Stone