Ancient Ireland

Question 1

When did Mesolithic begin in Ireland

Answer 1

7000 BC

Question 2

What are Mesolithic houses like

Answer 2

They were made of branches covered in animal skins. Were nomads

Question 3

When did the Neolithic time period begin

Answer 3

4000 BC

Question 4

Describe Neolithic houses

Answer 4

There are mainly rectangular. The walls are made from wattle and daub there was a thatched roof but no chimney and there was a hearth inside

Question 5

What did mesolithic people eat

Answer 5

Dear, wild boar, fish, shellfish, berries and hazelnuts

Question 6

What are Mesolithic tools made from

Answer 6

Flint

Question 7

When was pottery first made

Answer 7

During the Neolithic

Question 8

What was the difference between Neolithic tools and Mesolithic tools

Answer 8

The flint used for Neolithic tools was polished smooth

Question 9

What did Neolithic people use to till their land

Answer 9

Wooden ploughs and mattocks

Question 10

Give an example of a Neolithic farm

Answer 10

Céide Fields, Co. Mayo

Question 11

What are megalithic tombs

Answer 11

Large burial tomsb made from stones

Question 12

What would you find in the Boyne Valley, Co. Meath

Answer 12

Many examples of megalithic tombs

Question 13

Court cairn

Answer 13

A burial chamber with two rooms

Question 14

Dolmen

Answer 14

An ancient burial site consisting of three standing stones and a capstone on top

Question 15

Passage grave

Answer 15

A burial chamber with a long passageway. Newgrange is a good example of such a grave

Question 16

When did the Bronze Age begin in Ireland

Answer 16

2000 BC

Question 17

Where did bronze age people get the copper

Answer 17

Mt Gabriel, Co. Cork

Question 18

Where did Bronze Age people get the tin

Answer 18

Cornwall, England

Question 19

Lunala

Answer 19

A gold necklace from the Bronze Age

Question 20

Wedge tomb

Answer 20

A Bronze Age megalithic tomb. Had a passage that was high at one end an sloped down towards the end

Question 21

Cist grave

Answer 21

Stone lined put or grave. Placed full body burials here, often in a crouched position

Question 22

Stone circles

Answer 22

Megalithic monuments. Don’t seem to be used for burial but for ritual purposes

Question 23

Fulacht fiadh

Answer 23

A water filled trough used for cooking during the Bronze Age

Question 24

Hunter gatherers

Answer 24

Early irish settlers that did not know the skills of farming and survived by hunting wild animals and gathering berries and nuts

Question 25

Midden

Answer 25

A heap of kitchen waste found at ancient sites

Question 26

Quern

Answer 26

A stone used to grind grain

Question 27

Wattle and daub

Answer 27

Interwoven sticks that are plastered with mud and straw

Question 28

Post holes

Answer 28

Holes in the ground where upright poles for houses once stood

Question 29

Where can you find evidence of the Mesolithic in Ireland?

Answer 29

Mount Sandle, Co Antrim

Question 30

When was farming introduced to Ireland?

Answer 30

When the Neolithic time period began. i.e 4000BC