I am a Project Manager and Editor with Rubicon Heritage Services Ltd, since 2009 and have been working in commercial sector archaeology for over 15 years. I am particularly interested in the archaeology of the early medieval period, especially interdisciplinary approaches including contemporary historical sources and have contributed targeted historical research to many projects. I am also interested in the application of new technologies to research practice and understanding the impact of the availability of digital resources on research practice.
I have served on the board of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) from 2006-2012 and also on the Discovery Programme Council.
The proliferation of digital resources is an important manifestation of data sharing and knowledg... more The proliferation of digital resources is an important manifestation of data sharing and knowledge sharing practice. There is an increasing recognition of the importance of understanding the actual impact of these resources on research and research practice. Impact assessment methodologies are emerging from this nascent scholarship and offer a means of demonstrating performance and utility. This study took a multi-strand approach, inspired by the Toolkit for the Impact of Digitised Scholarly Resources (TIDSR), to evaluate seven digital resources relating to Irish archaeology. The results indicated significant factors that can influence the impact of a digital resource, positively or negatively.
Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, 2004
Page 1. Archaeological Excavations at 24-25 West Street/Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, County Louth By... more Page 1. Archaeological Excavations at 24-25 West Street/Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, County Louth By Teresa Bolger INTRODUCTION An archaeological excavation was carried out at 24-25 West Street/Stockwell Lane, Drogheda ...
in Corlett, C & Potterton, M (eds) The church in early medieval Ireland, in light of recent archaeological excavations. Wordwell Ltd, Dublin., 2014
The evidence from the archaeological excavations at Kilgobbin church make an important contributi... more The evidence from the archaeological excavations at Kilgobbin church make an important contribution to our understanding of early medieval metallurgy. It is not unusual for metal-working evidence to be found at ecclesiastical settlement sites of this period, though, many aspects of the complexity and technical practices are still emerging. The Kilgobbin evidence points to iron-working (both smelting and smithing), copper alloy working and assaying of silver at the site. Though iron-working is the most commonly identified metallurgical practice at sites of the period, this excavation produced (thus far) unique evidence for the deliberate use of manganese oxide in ore processing. Perhaps the most important discovery about the metal-working practices at the site, however, is the evidence for cupellation or silver assaying. The flat-bottomed crucibles present at the site were used for this purpose and provide important evidence for the use of the 2-stage cupellation process at this early date. Though it could be argued that Kilgobbin was prosperous settlement, it does not appear to have been a prominent or pre-eminent foundation within the general south Dublin region during the early medieval period. Thus, it is, arguably, an ‘ordinary’ ecclesiastical settlement. This would suggest that a range and variety of metallurgical processes were a normal part of the economy of similarly ‘ordinary’ ecclesiastical sites.
in Corlett, C & Potterton, M (eds) The church in early medieval Ireland, in light of recent archaeological excavations. Wordwell Ltd, Dublin., 2014
Recent excavations and survey work have shed light on the development of the early church site at... more Recent excavations and survey work have shed light on the development of the early church site at Lorrha. The available evidence supports the contention that the ecclesiastical foundation dates from the sixth century AD. Radiocarbon dates were obtained from two burials pre-dating the construction of the stone church as well as from a sequence of burials post-dating it. The archaeological evidence points to continuity in the use of the site from the early into the later medieval period (the stone church was regularly refurbished and there was continued use of the cemetery). The historical evidence suggests that the adoption of the Augustinian rule at the site could relate to an attempt to retain its ecclesiastical standing in the face of the changes brought about by the reform of the Irish church in the twelfth century. Certainly there is nothing to suggest that the Augustinian priory should be considered a ‘separate’ entity to the early medieval foundation, but rather a continuing chapter in its history.
in E. Bourke, A.R Hayden & A Lynch Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry: the monastery and the South Peak. Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin., 2011
The surviving evidence for the early history of Skellig Michael is very sparse; references to the... more The surviving evidence for the early history of Skellig Michael is very sparse; references to the site in texts prior to the 13th century tend to be brief and incidental. Some of these references are to the ecclesiastical foundation while others are to the island itself – as a prominent landmark off the southwest coast. The earliest surviving reference to the island is c. AD700, but definite references to the monastery have not been identified prior to the 9th century AD. There is also no strong historical information which would establish a foundation date for the site, though a foundation before AD700 seems most likely. Historical sources do suggest that the original patrons of the site could have been the Eóganachta Loch Léin, with patronage shifting to local Corcu Duibne dynasties by the 12th century. Again uncertainty surrounds the date of the establishment of the Augustinian abbey at Ballinskellig, though the background context for it would probably have been the influence of the 12th century reform movement in combination with a growing tradition of pilgrimage.
in Corlett, C. & Potterton, M (eds) Settlement in early medieval Ireland in the light of recent archaeological excavations. Wordwell, Ltd., Dublin, 2011
A relationship between secular settlement forms, particularly the ringfort and the laws of status... more A relationship between secular settlement forms, particularly the ringfort and the laws of status has long been acknowledged by archaeologists and utilised as a means of understanding and interpreting the settlement landscape. However other very pertinent areas have been overlooked – notably, land tenure (the concept of fintiu) and inheritance. The wealth and diversity of archaeological evidence that has been uncovered as a result of development-driven archaeological investigations over the last ten years is forcing us to re-assess and re-evaluate the existing archaeological models for early medieval Ireland. It may also be time to re-assess the processes used to integrate and model the data, along with how and where the archaeological data is compared and combined with historical datasets, to move from a reliance on hierarchical structures to understand and interpret the landscape, towards more complex models that acknowledge factors such as kinship, inheritance and land tenure. By integrating a wider range of early medieval legal concepts into archaeological models of settlement and landscape, there is an opportunity to enhance our understanding of the potential practical application of what, for the present, remain schematised legal constructs.
in Duffy, S. (ed.) Medieval Dublin XI, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2011
The excavations at 31-6 Ormond Quay Upper have shed important light on the original topography an... more The excavations at 31-6 Ormond Quay Upper have shed important light on the original topography and early development of the north shore of the river Liffey. The investigations have produced definite evidence for the location of the original shoreline of the Liffey and western edge of the Pill as well as the evolution and development of that shoreline. The evidence from this investigation indicates that the western edge of the Pill and the main channel of the River Bradogue lie further east than previously predicted. It indicates that this confluence of the two rivers was the focus of potentially complex settlement activity in later prehistory, during the Developed Iron Age. The Phase I structure is a clear attempt to actively manage the river frontage; the environmental evidence from the investigations clearly indicates that the structure had a significant and altering impact on the local environment. The scope of this intervention along the river frontage suggests that a substantial (though perhaps short-lived) Iron Age settlement was located in the immediate environs of the site.
The absence of medieval deposits at the site suggests that, despite its seemingly prime location, medieval activity was focused in other areas of the Pill. It is likely that, at least partially as a result of the Iron Age interventions at the site, the main shoreline of the river could have been located further to the south and east by the medieval period.
in Baker, C. (ed) Axes, Warriors & Windmills: Recent archaeological discoveries in North Fingal. Fingal Heritage Forum, 2009
Archaeological investigations at Flemington, Balbriggan identified evidence for activity dating f... more Archaeological investigations at Flemington, Balbriggan identified evidence for activity dating from the Neolithic through to the early medieval period. The main focus was an extensive ditch complex located on a ridge of high ground at the western edge of the site. Geophysical survey shows a dense complex of potential archaeological features extending over approximately 1 hectare within the development site and possibly extending over a further hectare beyond it. Thirteen phases of activity were identified, primarily dating to the early medieval period. While the main complex is superficially similar in size and scale to other early medieval enclosure complexes, it does not seem to fit as comfortable alongside these sites as it might initially appear; no settlement focus was identified, there was little evidence for habitation or structures and most of the identifiable activities would be classed as ancillary to a settlement or habitation site.
in Duffy, S. (ed.) Medieval Dublin VIII, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2008
This study, in contrast to most other Irish studies of the historic environment, focuses on the e... more This study, in contrast to most other Irish studies of the historic environment, focuses on the evidence that can be obtained from historical source material. No documentary source deals specifically with the environment, unlike areas such as land tenure or manorial organisation; the relevant information occurs primarily as minutiae embedded in the incidental material in the sources.This study focused on a single source, Archbishop Alen's Register. Even with this limitation, it was still possible to reconstruct many aspects of the environmental history of the county, and to identify factors which strongly influenced the nature of that environment during the later medieval period. One thing that becomes quite clear is that the environment of the county was far from uniform and one of the more notable aspects of this study is the identification of regionally specific factors which were influencing the nature of the environment during this period. As well as reconstructing details of the environment it is also possible, to a limited degree, to identify contemporary attitudes to that environment. English studies of the environment of this period provided the main source for comparison and there are strong indications of the importation of English systems of natural resource management into Ireland, as well as more widely recognised aspects of the manorial system.
Excavations at a site adjacent to Kilgobbin Church identified a complex sequence of enclosures wi... more Excavations at a site adjacent to Kilgobbin Church identified a complex sequence of enclosures with associated corn-drying kilns and field ditches – the main focus for this activity was the period 650-950AD
The proliferation of digital resources is an important manifestation of data sharing and knowledg... more The proliferation of digital resources is an important manifestation of data sharing and knowledge sharing practice. There is an increasing recognition of the importance of understanding the actual impact of these resources on research and research practice. Impact assessment methodologies are emerging from this nascent scholarship and offer a means of demonstrating performance and utility. This study took a multi-strand approach, inspired by the Toolkit for the Impact of Digitised Scholarly Resources (TIDSR), to evaluate seven digital resources relating to Irish archaeology. The results indicated significant factors that can influence the impact of a digital resource, positively or negatively.
Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, 2004
Page 1. Archaeological Excavations at 24-25 West Street/Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, County Louth By... more Page 1. Archaeological Excavations at 24-25 West Street/Stockwell Lane, Drogheda, County Louth By Teresa Bolger INTRODUCTION An archaeological excavation was carried out at 24-25 West Street/Stockwell Lane, Drogheda ...
in Corlett, C & Potterton, M (eds) The church in early medieval Ireland, in light of recent archaeological excavations. Wordwell Ltd, Dublin., 2014
The evidence from the archaeological excavations at Kilgobbin church make an important contributi... more The evidence from the archaeological excavations at Kilgobbin church make an important contribution to our understanding of early medieval metallurgy. It is not unusual for metal-working evidence to be found at ecclesiastical settlement sites of this period, though, many aspects of the complexity and technical practices are still emerging. The Kilgobbin evidence points to iron-working (both smelting and smithing), copper alloy working and assaying of silver at the site. Though iron-working is the most commonly identified metallurgical practice at sites of the period, this excavation produced (thus far) unique evidence for the deliberate use of manganese oxide in ore processing. Perhaps the most important discovery about the metal-working practices at the site, however, is the evidence for cupellation or silver assaying. The flat-bottomed crucibles present at the site were used for this purpose and provide important evidence for the use of the 2-stage cupellation process at this early date. Though it could be argued that Kilgobbin was prosperous settlement, it does not appear to have been a prominent or pre-eminent foundation within the general south Dublin region during the early medieval period. Thus, it is, arguably, an ‘ordinary’ ecclesiastical settlement. This would suggest that a range and variety of metallurgical processes were a normal part of the economy of similarly ‘ordinary’ ecclesiastical sites.
in Corlett, C & Potterton, M (eds) The church in early medieval Ireland, in light of recent archaeological excavations. Wordwell Ltd, Dublin., 2014
Recent excavations and survey work have shed light on the development of the early church site at... more Recent excavations and survey work have shed light on the development of the early church site at Lorrha. The available evidence supports the contention that the ecclesiastical foundation dates from the sixth century AD. Radiocarbon dates were obtained from two burials pre-dating the construction of the stone church as well as from a sequence of burials post-dating it. The archaeological evidence points to continuity in the use of the site from the early into the later medieval period (the stone church was regularly refurbished and there was continued use of the cemetery). The historical evidence suggests that the adoption of the Augustinian rule at the site could relate to an attempt to retain its ecclesiastical standing in the face of the changes brought about by the reform of the Irish church in the twelfth century. Certainly there is nothing to suggest that the Augustinian priory should be considered a ‘separate’ entity to the early medieval foundation, but rather a continuing chapter in its history.
in E. Bourke, A.R Hayden & A Lynch Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry: the monastery and the South Peak. Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Dublin., 2011
The surviving evidence for the early history of Skellig Michael is very sparse; references to the... more The surviving evidence for the early history of Skellig Michael is very sparse; references to the site in texts prior to the 13th century tend to be brief and incidental. Some of these references are to the ecclesiastical foundation while others are to the island itself – as a prominent landmark off the southwest coast. The earliest surviving reference to the island is c. AD700, but definite references to the monastery have not been identified prior to the 9th century AD. There is also no strong historical information which would establish a foundation date for the site, though a foundation before AD700 seems most likely. Historical sources do suggest that the original patrons of the site could have been the Eóganachta Loch Léin, with patronage shifting to local Corcu Duibne dynasties by the 12th century. Again uncertainty surrounds the date of the establishment of the Augustinian abbey at Ballinskellig, though the background context for it would probably have been the influence of the 12th century reform movement in combination with a growing tradition of pilgrimage.
in Corlett, C. & Potterton, M (eds) Settlement in early medieval Ireland in the light of recent archaeological excavations. Wordwell, Ltd., Dublin, 2011
A relationship between secular settlement forms, particularly the ringfort and the laws of status... more A relationship between secular settlement forms, particularly the ringfort and the laws of status has long been acknowledged by archaeologists and utilised as a means of understanding and interpreting the settlement landscape. However other very pertinent areas have been overlooked – notably, land tenure (the concept of fintiu) and inheritance. The wealth and diversity of archaeological evidence that has been uncovered as a result of development-driven archaeological investigations over the last ten years is forcing us to re-assess and re-evaluate the existing archaeological models for early medieval Ireland. It may also be time to re-assess the processes used to integrate and model the data, along with how and where the archaeological data is compared and combined with historical datasets, to move from a reliance on hierarchical structures to understand and interpret the landscape, towards more complex models that acknowledge factors such as kinship, inheritance and land tenure. By integrating a wider range of early medieval legal concepts into archaeological models of settlement and landscape, there is an opportunity to enhance our understanding of the potential practical application of what, for the present, remain schematised legal constructs.
in Duffy, S. (ed.) Medieval Dublin XI, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2011
The excavations at 31-6 Ormond Quay Upper have shed important light on the original topography an... more The excavations at 31-6 Ormond Quay Upper have shed important light on the original topography and early development of the north shore of the river Liffey. The investigations have produced definite evidence for the location of the original shoreline of the Liffey and western edge of the Pill as well as the evolution and development of that shoreline. The evidence from this investigation indicates that the western edge of the Pill and the main channel of the River Bradogue lie further east than previously predicted. It indicates that this confluence of the two rivers was the focus of potentially complex settlement activity in later prehistory, during the Developed Iron Age. The Phase I structure is a clear attempt to actively manage the river frontage; the environmental evidence from the investigations clearly indicates that the structure had a significant and altering impact on the local environment. The scope of this intervention along the river frontage suggests that a substantial (though perhaps short-lived) Iron Age settlement was located in the immediate environs of the site.
The absence of medieval deposits at the site suggests that, despite its seemingly prime location, medieval activity was focused in other areas of the Pill. It is likely that, at least partially as a result of the Iron Age interventions at the site, the main shoreline of the river could have been located further to the south and east by the medieval period.
in Baker, C. (ed) Axes, Warriors & Windmills: Recent archaeological discoveries in North Fingal. Fingal Heritage Forum, 2009
Archaeological investigations at Flemington, Balbriggan identified evidence for activity dating f... more Archaeological investigations at Flemington, Balbriggan identified evidence for activity dating from the Neolithic through to the early medieval period. The main focus was an extensive ditch complex located on a ridge of high ground at the western edge of the site. Geophysical survey shows a dense complex of potential archaeological features extending over approximately 1 hectare within the development site and possibly extending over a further hectare beyond it. Thirteen phases of activity were identified, primarily dating to the early medieval period. While the main complex is superficially similar in size and scale to other early medieval enclosure complexes, it does not seem to fit as comfortable alongside these sites as it might initially appear; no settlement focus was identified, there was little evidence for habitation or structures and most of the identifiable activities would be classed as ancillary to a settlement or habitation site.
in Duffy, S. (ed.) Medieval Dublin VIII, Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2008
This study, in contrast to most other Irish studies of the historic environment, focuses on the e... more This study, in contrast to most other Irish studies of the historic environment, focuses on the evidence that can be obtained from historical source material. No documentary source deals specifically with the environment, unlike areas such as land tenure or manorial organisation; the relevant information occurs primarily as minutiae embedded in the incidental material in the sources.This study focused on a single source, Archbishop Alen's Register. Even with this limitation, it was still possible to reconstruct many aspects of the environmental history of the county, and to identify factors which strongly influenced the nature of that environment during the later medieval period. One thing that becomes quite clear is that the environment of the county was far from uniform and one of the more notable aspects of this study is the identification of regionally specific factors which were influencing the nature of the environment during this period. As well as reconstructing details of the environment it is also possible, to a limited degree, to identify contemporary attitudes to that environment. English studies of the environment of this period provided the main source for comparison and there are strong indications of the importation of English systems of natural resource management into Ireland, as well as more widely recognised aspects of the manorial system.
Excavations at a site adjacent to Kilgobbin Church identified a complex sequence of enclosures wi... more Excavations at a site adjacent to Kilgobbin Church identified a complex sequence of enclosures with associated corn-drying kilns and field ditches – the main focus for this activity was the period 650-950AD
The proliferation of digital repositories is an important manifestation of data sharing and knowl... more The proliferation of digital repositories is an important manifestation of data sharing and knowledge sharing in humanities disciplines. These repositories encompass both digitised and ‘born’ digital datasets. Previous studies have focused greatly on the practical and technological aspects of these projects, but there has been increasing recognition of the importance of understanding the actual impact of the availability of these resources on research and research practice.
In a competitive funding environment, previous assumptions of ‘if you build it they will come’ are no longer sufficient. Impact assessment methodologies offer a means of demonstrating performance and utility. Tools and techniques to evaluate the impact of digital resources are emerging from nascent scholarship in this area.
In order to explore methods for impact assessment, this study has assessed the impact of a defined set of digital resources relating to Irish archaeology in the context of a specific ‘community of practice’ (professional archaeologists). The study has taken a multi-strand approach using three techniques that form part of the Toolkit for the Impact of Digitised Scholarly Resources (TIDSR) developed on behalf of JISC in the UK. The techniques employed were bibliometic analysis, webometric analysis and a survey of practitioners. Seven existing digital resources relevant to Irish archaeology were successfully targeted for evaluation using these techniques.
The techniques used for this study were largely effective, though with certain defined limitations, largely consistent with those encountered in previous studies using these methods. The most significant challenge for impact assessment studies identified was the impact of poor citation practices on measurability. The results obtained have identified significant factors that can influence the impact of a digital resource, positively or negatively.
The investigation of a lost medieval village on the M9 motorway scheme in County Kildare has prov... more The investigation of a lost medieval village on the M9 motorway scheme in County Kildare has provided the material for a unique story in the Irish archaeological record. In A Medieval Village at Mullamast readers will learn about the hobby, a small agile horse bred for raiding and scouting in time of war and the specialist light cavalry called hobelars, who rode them. There is evidence from the settlement at Mullamast for other aspects of medieval Irish life also. Cattle, sheep and pigs were reared and, variously, milked, sheared or slaughtered for their meat and hides. From the evidence for harvesting and processing cereal crops it is clear that arable farming was important too. But the distinguishing feature of this settlement is the unusually high proportion of horse remains in the animal bone assemblage recovered by the archaeological excavation of the site and, especially smaller horses corresponding in stature to the hobby. It seems that the medieval village of Mullamast is now the first attested stud farm in the long history of horse breeding in County Kildare and was a place where the villagers specialised in horses bred for war.
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The absence of medieval deposits at the site suggests that, despite its seemingly prime location, medieval activity was focused in other areas of the Pill. It is likely that, at least partially as a result of the Iron Age interventions at the site, the main shoreline of the river could have been located further to the south and east by the medieval period.
The absence of medieval deposits at the site suggests that, despite its seemingly prime location, medieval activity was focused in other areas of the Pill. It is likely that, at least partially as a result of the Iron Age interventions at the site, the main shoreline of the river could have been located further to the south and east by the medieval period.
In a competitive funding environment, previous assumptions of ‘if you build it they will come’ are no longer sufficient. Impact assessment methodologies offer a means of demonstrating performance and utility. Tools and techniques to evaluate the impact of digital resources are emerging from nascent scholarship in this area.
In order to explore methods for impact assessment, this study has assessed the impact of a defined set of digital resources relating to Irish archaeology in the context of a specific ‘community of practice’ (professional archaeologists). The study has taken a multi-strand approach using three techniques that form part of the Toolkit for the Impact of Digitised Scholarly Resources (TIDSR) developed on behalf of JISC in the UK. The techniques employed were bibliometic analysis, webometric analysis and a survey of practitioners. Seven existing digital resources relevant to Irish archaeology were successfully targeted for evaluation using these techniques.
The techniques used for this study were largely effective, though with certain defined limitations, largely consistent with those encountered in previous studies using these methods. The most significant challenge for impact assessment studies identified was the impact of poor citation practices on measurability. The results obtained have identified significant factors that can influence the impact of a digital resource, positively or negatively.