The Economy of the Ringfort and Contemporary Settlement in Early Medieval Ireland

Description

The main aim of this work is to examine the economy of settlement in Early Medieval Ireland, based largely on the evidence from excavated ringforts. It uses this information to build an understanding of the general economy at the time, identifying different economic levels within society, and to chart economic/ technological progress through this period. This is accomplished through an examination of the surviving documentary evidence, followed by treatments of each of the economic components, including crop cultivation, animal husbandry, resource exploitation, stone-, wood-, clay- and bone-working, textile and leather production, iron-, glass- and precious metal-working. Topics addressed include the links between economy and social structure, between economy and settlement form, and between economy and political events. As the central settlement form of this period, the ringfort has an important place in our understanding of economy and society in Early Medieval Ireland.