Commemoration and change: remembering what may not have happened
Channel: Recording Archaeology
Date: 2019-02-16

The paper discusses the early Irish texts concerned with the significance of place names – dinnshenachas –which account for the historical importance of ancient monuments and other features. They are illustrated by the Medieval poem ‘Tara noblest of hills’. I compare the archaeology of the Hill of Tara with two reconstructions offered on the basis of early texts and contrast the different interpretations of this evidence by Jim Mallory and John Waddell. Although they share little common ground, the differences between their accounts help to identify the features that were rapidly forgotten and those that retained a little of their original significance. There is an important distinction between memory – the attempt to recall past events and practices – and commemoration – actions in the present inspired by the remains of the past. 

Richard Bradley (University of Reading)