I've discovered through taking this course that prehistory is actually really fascinating to study. Our final stop on Inishmore (before going to dinner at the American Bar mentioned in the previous post) was Dun Aonghasa, a hill fort. It was most likely constructed in the Late Bronze Age.
 |
| Me at Dun Aonghasa |
It was during the Late Bronze Age that we see an emergence of chiefdoms in Ireland. Dun Aonghasa was likely the focal site of one of these wealthy chiefdoms. Everything about Dun Aonghasa is defensive. First off, it is built on a terrifying cliff that prevents any attacks from the sea. While we were exploring the site, our professor kept getting worried that we would fall off the cliff. Although he was the one who got the closest.
 |
| The View from the Outermost Enclosure |
 |
| The Innermost Enclosure from the Middle Enclosure |
There are a total of three enclosures. The first had the chevaux de frise, the second was likely a place where members of the chiefdom could seek refuge during times of war, and the inner most enclosure was for the elite. The inner most enclosure also has a platform that was possibly for marriages, inaugurations, and/or human sacrifices.
 |
| The Chevaux de Frise |
One of the most defensive aspects is the chevaux de frise. These are a group of sharp stones placed up at many angles so that it would be incredibly difficult and dangerous to get through, especially in any rush. Thus, we wondered, if anyone actually attacked the site as we had difficulty just getting up and down without falling on our faces.
No comments:
Post a Comment