Irish
Megalithic Tombs (2nd edn), by ELIZABETH SHEE TWOHIG
Shire Archaeology no. 63. 2004. 72
pages, 11 colour & 31 b/w illustrations. ISBN 0 7478 0598 9 (£5.99)
It is the stated objective of Shire Archaeology ‘to
publish authoritative, well-written and well-illustrated books, by experts
on the subject’, and in Elizabeth Shee Twohig’s Irish
Megalithic Tombs, here in its second edition, they have again fully
realised that aim. Published originally in 1990, this new edition has
been completely rewritten to incorporate new research, providing a succinct,
up-to-date and readable account of what by any measure is a remarkable
series of Neolithic and Early Bronze Age monuments. (That such a revision
was opportune is indicated, perhaps, by the fact that almost half the
references in its Further Reading section post-date the 1990
edition).
There are some 1600 known megalithic tombs in Ireland,
and although they are a subject of widespread and wholly understandable
interest, they have, as the author points out, been dealt with for the
most part either in academic journals or in picture books with little
text. The conciseness of this book is therefore most welcome. To condense
such a large subject into this slim volume must have been a challenge
in itself, but Shee Twohig succeeds admirably, producing a clear, comprehensive
and well illustrated text.
From the Introduction the author follows
the standard classification and sequence for these monuments –
of court tombs, portal tombs, passage tombs and wedge tombs. She neither
glosses over, however, nor dwells on the difficulties implicit in both
this typology and chronology, but simply draws the reader’s attention
to the wide variation of form within each type (or tradition), to the
overlapping of forms and the presence of unclassified tombs (as well
as other forms of burial), and to the unreliability of many of the early
radiocarbon dates.
The second chapter, History of Irish megalithic
tomb studies, squeezed of necessity into just four pages, is a
useful preface to the rest of the book, outlining the combination of
antiquarian interest (by John Aubrey, Edward Lhwyd and others), systematic
survey (from the early 19th century through to the continuing Survey
of the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland) and both large and small-scale
excavations, that have contributed to the present state of knowledge.
The next four chapters, describing the four main tomb
types, Court tombs, Portal tombs, Passage tombs and Wedge
tombs, follow a largely similar pattern, covering tomb structure
and design; distribution, topography and association; burial practice;
dating; and origins and affinity. They are illustrated with a selection
of monument plans, photographs (including in this edition a number of
colour plates), finds drawings and distribution maps. Most useful are
the isometric drawings of the Annaghmare court tomb, Greengraves portal
tomb and Baurnadomeeny wedge tomb, showing the distinctive construction
of each type and identifying their component parts.
I would have found it useful to have had a similar
drawing for Passage tombs – instead there is a plan and
section of the Newgrange passage and chamber. An isometric of a complete
and more typical monument (showing, for instance, its kerb) might have
allowed a better comparison between this and the other tomb types. It
could also have counteracted the impression sometimes given that the
small number of very elaborate passage tombs are the norm for the type;
while it is inevitable that passage tombs should have been dealt with
slightly differently (this chapter also discusses, for instance, tomb
orientation, carvings and later activity around passage tombs) the majority
of the passage tomb figures and photographs relate to the most elaborate
examples (such as Newgrange, Knowth and Fourknocks). This is a mere
quibble, however, and the accompanying text more than makes clear the
extent of both the regularity and variability displayed in passage tomb
construction.
As the chapter subdivisions indicate, there is a lot
to cover in these chapters, and the fact that this is achieved is due
in part to Shee Twohig’s condensed and matter of fact style. There
is really only room to present the data, and she certainly manages to
pack it in; for that reason alone one will find references to this ‘popular’
book in many academic works on the subject. Discussion is confined to
the short Conclusions chapter; perhaps it should more accurately
have been entitled Questions, as in it she asks (inter
alia) ‘Why were these tombs built?’ and ‘What
type of society was prepared to expend so much time and effort on building
houses for the dead?’ Rather than attempt, in just two pages,
to provide conclusive answers, Shee Twohig points to certain aspects
of the evidence that she has already presented (e.g. burials, orientation
and artefacts etc.) within which the answers may be sought, and she
ends with a series further questions that both indicate lines of academic
enquiry and leave the general reader wanting to know (and ask) more.
For that reader, the final sections of this book are
a valuable resource. First there is a list of over 130 Sites to
visit, by county, with details of tomb type, national grid reference
and published reference. As there are few places in Ireland where one
is more than a few miles from one of these monuments, this book would
be an invaluable accompaniment to anyone wanting visit them in person.
And for the armchair enthusiast, Further reading provides a
further comprehensive list of more general references covering the subject.
In summary, the first edition of Irish Megalithic Tombs was
essential reading for anyone interested in these monuments – this
timely revision will ensure it remains so.
Andrew B Powell
Wessex Archaeology
Review Submitted: December 2004
The views expressed in
this review are not necessarily those of the Society or the Reviews
Editor.
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