Abstract
TO Colonel Wood-Martin is due the credit of the first attempt to co-ordinate the vast stores of archæological lore which lie buried in the publications of the various Irish societies. The subject is a really fine one, and it was time that the data of Irish archæology should be collated and presented in a convenient form. This the author has accomplished. There are two ways of regarding a book: the one is to expect the author to write the book in the way you (whoever “you” may happen to be) would like to have it written, and the other is the acceptance of the author's position, and to deal with the work from that point of view. It is not difficult to discover the ideals which the author has in this instance placed before himself. “In order to arrive at the truth, it is desirable to test the opinions and conclusions of those who, by a careful analysis of the probabilities and facts recorded by them, have travelled over the same ground before…. Antiquarian research in Ireland may, with advantage, be directed towards filling in the social history of primitive man; articles which are the result of the handiwork of the aborigines illustrate, with much exactitude, life in the olden days…. If material objects be accepted as proofs of the pagan ideas and customs of the aborigines, surely the evidence of still existent superstitious observances of the peasantry, which can be traced to a pre-Christian source, ought to be received withr at least, the same authority. … It is to be hoped that research into the past, on these lines, may contribute to the reconstruction of early history.” This is a sound method of treating archæology; our author clearly recognises that the value of archæology, whether it be of o objects made by man, or of folk-lore, lies in the use which it can be put in deciphering the early history of man, and he admits that in Ireland “we have made but little progress in higher scientific archæology; and the ancient antiquities of Ireland still remain in an unclassified condition.” This is a refreshing admission, and the justification of this statement is only too apparent to those who know the present unintelligent arrangement of the magnificent collections of the Royal Irish Academy, now housed in the Dublin Science and Art. Museum. The splendid: opportunities for archæological research which exist in Ireland, are woefully neglected, and it is to be hoped that Colonel Wood-Martin's book will serve to stimulate an interest in this fascinating and promising field of inquiry. We are glad to note that he refers to the “vandalism” of the Board of Works with regard to ancient monuments; but a great deal more has yet to be said on this subject.
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Pagan Ireland. Nature 53, 82–83 (1895). https://doi.org/10.1038/053082a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/053082a0