The Origins of Ireland's Holy Wells

Celeste Ray

• Publisher: Archaeopress
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781784910440
• eBook ISBN: 9781784910457
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Archaeology
• Index: Social Sciences

This book re-assesses archaeological research into holy well sites in Ireland and the evidence for votive deposition at watery sites throughout northwest European prehistory. Ray examines a much-ignored and diminishing archaeological resource; moving beyond debates about the possible Celticity of these sites in order to gain a deeper understanding of patterns among sacred watery sites. The work considers how and why sacred springs are archaeologically-resistant sites and what has actually been found at the few excavated in Ireland. Drawing on the early Irish literature (the myths, hagiographies, penitentials and annals), the author gives an account of pre-Christian supermundane wells in Ireland and what we know about their early Christian use for baptism, and concludes by considering the origins of "rounding" rituals at holy wells.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Contents
• Introduction
• 1: Water Veneration and Votive Deposition in Prehistoric Northern and Western Europe
• 2: Iron Age Evidence, Continuity,
• and the “Celtic” Question
• 3: Iron Age Water Deities
• 4: Holy Wells and Sacred Springs as
• Archaeologically-Resistant Sites
• 5: The Contested Origins and Materiality of
• Irish Holy Wells
• 6: Supermundane Wells of the Iron Age &
• the Early Irish Literature
• 7: Irish Sacred Wells of the Early Christian Era
• 8: Sacred Springs and Conversion Strategies in
• Britain and on the Continent
• 9: Christian Holy Wells and Baptism
• 10: Origins of Rounding and the
• Interconnectedness of Wells
• Conclusion
• Endnotes
• Appendix A:Irish Excavation Reports of “holy wells” from Excavations.ie (as of June 2014)
• Appendix B: Holy Wells in the County Archaeological
• Inventories of Ireland
• List of Figures
• Bibliography
• Index