http://hdl.handle.net/10468/426 Sat, 18 May 2013 07:19:57 GMT 2013-05-18T07:19:57Z http://hdl.handle.net/10468/427 New light on early Insular monasteries Ó Carragáin, Tomás Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10468/427 2009-09-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10468/428 Regional variation in Irish pre-Romanesque architecture Ó Carragáin, Tomás This paper demonstrates that the five Irish early medieval church types have markedly differential distributions. In particular, most of those with antae are in the east, while most of those without antae are in the west. It is shown that this regionalism cannot be interpreted as a deliberate strategy of material differentiation on the part of particular politico-cultural groups. A reconsideration of the chronology suggests that many of the antae-less churches are relatively late, and so the division is primarily indicative of differences in the period and rate of mortared church construction, something that is influenced by both environmental and cultural factors. It is suggested that differences in church dimensions between east and west are indicative of subtle economic differences; and a range of archaeological evidence is used to sketch other economic and cultural variations. These patterns highlight the importance of exploring regionality, even when studying relatively cohesive entities such as early medieval Ireland. Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10468/428 2005-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10468/448 Habitual masonry styles and the local organisation of church building in early medieval Ireland Ó Carragáin, Tomás The results of a masonry analysis of the majority of Irish pre-Romanesque churches are presented. A number of local styles are identified in high-density areas, mostly in the west of the country and it is shown that the differences between these styles were not determined by geology. It is argued that these styles represent habitual variation and are therefore indicative of local groups of masons working over a relatively short period of time. This assessment is supported by an analysis of stone supply that suggests that quarrying was organised in an ad hoc manner to supply local needs. These churches are normally placed within a broad timeframe spanning the tenth to early-twelfth centuries but a number of factors combine to suggest that the habitual styles are a relatively late development, perhaps mainly from the mid-eleventh century onwards. Some of the implications of this proposed refinement of the existing chronology are briefly discussed. Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10468/448 2005-07-01T00:00:00Z