The Medieval Landscape of Ferrycarrig: Tracing the Anglo-Norman Invasion of Ireland - Institute for Field Research


Location: Wexford, Ireland

Season: 
July 14, 2019 to August 10, 2019

Application Deadline: 
Friday, April 5, 2019

Deadline Type: 
Rolling

Website: 
http://ifrglobal.org/program/ireland-ferrycarrig-summer/

Flyer: PDF icon syllabus-ireland-ferrycarrig-summer-2019-.pdf

Program Type

Field school

RPA certified

no

Affiliation:

Institute for Field Research, Connecticut College, Irish Archaeology Field School

Project Director:

Dr. Stephen Mandal, Dr. Denis Shine

Project Description

Built in 1,169 CE, Ferrycarrig is crucial to our understanding of the earliest stages of the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. Probably one of the first permanent Norman fortifications to be built in Ireland, the site comprised a ringwork castle placed on a natural promontory overlooking the River Slaney and Wexford town. Today, the bank and ditch are all that remain above the ground but archaeological excavations in the 1980’s uncovered significant evidence of the fortifications preserved below ground.

Ferrycarrig is located within the Irish National Heritage Park, an open-air museum which recreates the key stages in Ireland’s past, providing a stunning backdrop to the archaeological research site. Students will be exposed not only to archaeological investigation at the site but also to the many and myriad ways by which the public is presented, view and interpret the archaeological record.

Period(s) of Occupation: Historical Archaeology

Project size: 
1-24 participants

Minimum Length of Stay for Volunteers: Participants must stay entire duration of the field school.

Minimum age: 
18

Experience required: 
No prior experience required.

Room and Board Arrangements

Students will stay with local families in the County of Wexford.  Home Stay students live with local families, and experience true home life in provincial Ireland. Students will be brought to the site daily. Students should understand that many of the host families are in rural settings, requiring taxis to reach the town of Wexford. Breakfast and dinner will be provided along with a packed lunch. Students are encouraged to avail of their free time at weekends and explore Ireland.

Cost: 
Room and Board is included in the cost of the tuition

Academic Credit

Name of institution offering credit: 
Connecticut College
Number of credits offered 8 Semester Credits
Tuition: 
$4,670

Location

Contact Information
Institute for Field Research
2999 Overland Ave. Suite 103
Los Angeles
CA
USA
90064
infr@ifrglobal.org
Telephone: 
424-209-1173
Recommended Bibliography: 

MANDATORY READINGS

Barry, T. B. 1987. The Archaeology of Medieval Ireland. Routledge, London. Chapters 1-3.

Bennett, I. 1985. Preliminary Archaeological Excavations at Ferrycarrig Ringwork, Newtown Td., Co. Wexford. Journal of the Old Wexford Society, 10: 25-43.

Colfer, B. 2002. Arrogant Trespass : Anglo-Norman Wexford 1169-1400. Duffry Press, Wexford, Chapters 1-4.

Green, K. and Moore, T. 2010. Archaeology, an Introduction, 5th Ed. Routledge, Oxford. Chapter 3, Sections 3.3-3.5.

Shine, D. and Mandal, S. 2017. Ferrycarrig Archaeological Site Handbook. Unpublished site handbook, which will be circulated to students after enrolment on the course. Typically 50 pages in length.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Barry, T.B. 1983. ‘Anglo-Norman Ringwork Castles: some evidence’ in Reeves-Smyth, T, and Hammond, F. (eds.) Landscape Archaeology in Ireland: 295-314 Oxford, B.A.R. 116.

Bennett, I. 1989. The Crimean War memorial, Ferrycarrig, Co. Wexford - a precisely dated round tower. Archaeology Ireland 3 (2): 58-60.

Clyne, M. 2007. Kells Priory, Co. Kilkenny: Archaeological Excavations by T. Fanning and M. Clyne. Department of the Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, Dublin.

Colfer, B. 2004. Wexford: A Town and its Landscape. Cork University Press, Cork.

Culleton, E. 1980. The South Wexford Landscape. Mount Salus Press, Dublin.

Doyle, I. and Browne, B (eds.) 2017. Medieval Wexford: Essays in memory of Billy Colfer. Four Courts Press, Dublin.

Duffy, S. 1997. Ireland in the Middle Ages. Gill and Macmillan, Dublin.

Hore, P.H. 1906. History of the Town and County of Wexford - The Town of Wexford with Notes of Taghmon and Harperstown. London

Jeffry, W.H. 1979. The castles of Co. Wexford. Notes presented to Wexford County Library by Old Wexford Society. Unpublished.

Lydon, J.F. 1972. The Lordship of Ireland in the Middle Ages. Gill and McMillan, Dublin.

Lynch, A. 2010. Tintern Abbey, Co. Wexford: Cistercians and Colcloughs. Excavations 1982-2007. Department of the Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, Dublin.

McErlean, T. 1983. The Irish townland system of Landscape Organisation’ in Reeves-Smyth, T. and Hammond, F. (eds.) Landscape Archaeology in Ireland: 315-340. Oxford, B.A.R. 116.

Museum of London. 1990. Archaeological Site Manual, 2nd Ed. Museum of London, London.

O'Donovan, T. 1840. Ordnance Survey Letters. Four Courts Press, Dublin.

Orpen, G.H. 1892. The Song of Dermot and the Earl. Oxford.

Orpen, G.H. 1968. Ireland under the Normans 4 vols. Reprint. Oxford.

Scott, A.B. and Martin, F.X. (eds.) 1978. Expugnatio Hibernica by Giraldus Cambrensis. New History of Ireland Ancillary Publication No. III Dublin. Royal Irish Academy.

Sweetman, D. 2000. The Medieval Castles of Ireland. Boydell Press, Suffolk.

Sweetman, David, P. 1978. ‘Archaeological Excavations at Trim Castle, Co. Meath, 1971-4’. P.R.I.A. 78(6).

Twohig, D.C. I978. ‘Norman Ringwood Castles’ Bulletin of the Group for the Study of lrish Historical Settlement 5:7-9.