Field trip to Ferrycarrig: a blast into Ireland's archaeological past

For my archeology class we went on a field trip to Ferrycarrig Irish Heritage Park. The park has different sites that highlights the archaeological history of Ireland from the pre-historic period to historic period (medieval and viking). History, according to my professor, in Ireland begins with the introduction of written work around the time of St. Patrick and the arrival of Christianity.

They have recreations of things associated with life in Ireland during the Mesolithic period (pre 4000 BC), Neolithic period (4000-2500 BC), Bronze Age (2500 BC - 700 BC), Iron Age (700 BC-400 AD, Medieval period (400 AD - 900 AD, 1100 AD - 1600AD) and Viking period (900 AD-1100AD).

The park is in Wexford which is about a 1 1/2 to 2 hour drive south of Dublin.

During the trip, we went to 5 different parts of the park where we were given lectures about the different locations. We had to complete a workbook (worth 40% of my final grade) based on the information we learned at Ferrycarrig. 

Here is a snippet of things I learned about Ireland.

The Neolithic House was being rebuilt when we visited the park. Heavy rains had flooded the area and washed away the old reconstruction. 

A recreation of a cist burial. Cist burials were popular during the Bronze Age. They first started as a collective burial spot but then became an individual burial plot later on. They are often found with food vessels and either cremated remains or skeletal remands. They can be found in groups, creating a cemetery. 

An example of a house found during the Medieval period.  Most houses were found in ringforts, the outside of one is shown in the photo below. 

Ringforts often had a ditch surrounding it. 

Entrance to the ringfort.

A fulacht fiadh is a the term used to describe a prehistoric cooking/heating method. The pit in the middle was often near a low point so water could be easily collected. The water was heated by placing in hot stones into the pit. Meat was then placed inside the water pit and cooked for several hours. The stone horseshoe shaped wall around the pit was made from the stone that was heated and thrown in the pit.

part of the Viking recreation.