The Bronze Age

Question 1

Beaker people

Answer 1

New settlers coming to Europe were called the beaker people because they began to use pots shaped like a drinking vessel. They also used metal. The beaker people brought the Bronze Age to Ireland around 2000 BCE

Question 2

Mining

Answer 2

Huge fires were lit to crack the rock

Question 3

Smelting

Answer 3

This is the process of separating copper around rock

Question 4

Fulacht fiadh

Answer 4

This is a type of ‘cookes’ used first in the Bronze Age. The fulacht fiadh was made by digging a put near a river, lining it with wood and filling it with water, stones were them heated in a fire and when they were red hot, put into the pit, making the water boil. Meat was wrapped in straw and out in the water to cook.

Question 5

Lunula and torc

Answer 5

These are types or necklaces which date from the Bronze Age (mainly made of gold)

Question 6

Cist graves

Answer 6

A pit in the ground, lined with stone slabs - often with cremated remains or bodies in a crouched position

Question 7

Wedge tombs

Answer 7

These were built with large, flagstones. The front is wider or higher than the back

Question 8

Stone circles

Answer 8

These are tall upright stones arranged in circles or rows. They all follow the movement of the sun and some have bodies buried within them

Question 9

The tuath

Answer 9

Rí - the king

Derbhfine - royal family

Warriors - soldiers

Aos dána
Judges ( brehon)
Druids (priests)
Craftspeople
Doctors
Filí (poets)
Bards (musicians)

Question 10

The Bronze Age

Answer 10

It lasted from approximately 2500 BCE to 1400 BCE. It was a time when people discovered copper and began to mix it with tin to make bronze, and so metal began to be in addition to, and sometimes to replace, stone for tools.