The archaeology of the early Irish churches in the eighth century

A Case Study of Heterarchy in Complex Societies: Early Medieval Ireland and its Archeological Implications

“…Many monasteries had churches built of stone, at least eventually, although the general lack of diagnostic features makes them difficult to date. A very few wooden churches are known from excavation, but they are well known in the literature (Hamlin 1985). A substantial number of monasteries also had stone high-crosses.…”

“…While cross-inscribed slabs are likely to have begun earlier, the first free-standing high-crosses were probably erected in the eighth century; the most accomplished and elaborate ones date to the ninth to eleventh centuries. Most of the round towers probably date to the tenth to twelfth centuries (on monasteries see Hamlin [1985] and Edwards [1990:104-121]; on churches, see Edwards [ 1990:121 -127]; on stone sculpture, see Edwards [1990:161-171]; on round towers, see Edwards [1990:127-128]).…”

Iona: a view from Ireland

“…The small rectangular structure at the north-west angle of the Cathedral nave, known as St Columba's Shrine, is also likely to date from this period. With its short (3:2) proportions, west door and projecting antae it is certainly very like the small stone churches in Ireland datable in general to the 10th and llth centuries and shown in several cases by excavation to have succeeded structures of wood or mixed wood and stone (Harbison 1982;Hamlin 1984). The retention of this small and simple building through all later construction work, as well as the proximity of two early crosses, lend support to the tradition that this was St Columba's burial place.…”