Iron Age and the Celts

Question 1

What written evidence have we of the celts

Answer 1

A) the Greeks and Romans wrote about them a they were mighty warriors

b) irish monks after 500AD wrote about them in their annals
c) the Táin is a famous book about the celts

Question 2

When did the Iron Age begin in Ireland

Answer 2

500 BC

Question 3

The Rí

Answer 3

He was the king of the tuath. He was chosen from the derbhfine by the nobles. He had to be fit and strong and a good leader so he could win battles

Question 4

Warriors

Answer 4

Had a reputation of being fierce. Sometimes went to battle naked. Fought with iron swords, spears and axes

Question 5

Aos dána

Answer 5

People with special skills ie brehons, Druids, fillí and craftsmen

Question 6

Farmers

Answer 6

Quite poor but played an important role on supplying the tuath with food

Question 7

Slaves

Answer 7

Captured in battle, worked without pay for the Rí and nobles

Question 8

Souterrains

Answer 8

Underground passage ways found in ring forts which may have been used when under attack

Question 9

What archaeological evidence so we have of the celts?

Answer 9

We have found lots if Celtic jewellery, iron tools and weapons and settlements

Question 10

Describe the appearance of a Celtic man

Answer 10

🔹Made their own clothes from linen and wool
🔹Cloaks fastened with brooches
🔹Trousers to the knee
🔹Brightly coloured tunics
🔹Loved wearing gold jewellery
🔹Describe as tall and muscular with blonde hair and fair skin
🔹moustache

Question 11

Describe the appearance of a Celtic woman

Answer 11

🔸made their own clothes from linen and wool
🔸Cloaks fastened with brooches
🔸Gold jewellery
🔸Ankle length tunics

Question 12

What are ogham stones?

Answer 12

Standing stones with a form of writing called ogham marked onto them (lines and dashes). Marked field boundaries an gravestones

Question 13

Describe ringforts

Answer 13

▫️Circular structure surrounded by a ditch
▫️Inside were circular houses made of wood with thatched roof
▫️Timber or wattle fence built around ditch

Question 14

Describe crannógs

Answer 14

🔻Lake dwelling
🔻Surrounded by wattle fence
🔻Some had watch towers

Question 15

How are crannógs built?

Answer 15

Built with many layers of mud, wood, branches, stones and platforms of logs

Question 16

How are crannógs accessed?

Answer 16

🔸Dug out canoe
🔸Bridge
🔸Hidden stepping stones

Question 17

Describe hillforts

Answer 17

• Similar structure to ringforts but bigger and situated on high ground which made it good for defence
• Had a series of ditches and bants

Question 18

Give an example of a famous celtic torc

Answer 18

Broighter Torc

Question 19

When did the celts discover how to make glass?

Answer 19

250BC

Question 20

What did the celts eat?

Answer 20

Beef, pork, venison, fish, cheese, butter and drank milk and ale

Question 21

What did the celts use to cook the food?

Answer 21

Cooked on a spit, cauldron, or fulacht fiadh

Question 22

When did the celts convert to Christianity?

Answer 22

5th century

Question 23

What does polytheistic mean?

Answer 23

To believe in many gods

Question 24

How did the celts bury their dead?

Answer 24

Cremated the dead and placed the ashes in small mounds