The Role of the Historian
Define chronology.
The study of time or the timeline of events.
What is a sieve?
A metal mesh or net used to separate small artefacts from dirt.
What is bias?
Selecting evidence to support only one point of view.
Name one manuscript created by Irish monks.
Cathach
What name is given to the haircut monks wore?
Tonsure.
What is a secondary source?
Evidence that is gathered from primary sources, but does not directly from the event itself.
Define aerial photography.
The use of drones/helicopters/planes to photograph sites from above.
Who was the first Christian missionary to Ireland?
Palladius.
The introduction of Christianity has had a deep impact on modern Irish society, particularly in Northern Ireland, where there is division between Catholics and Protestants. What name is given to the period of violent unrest between Cathoic Nationalists and Protestant Unionists in Northern Ireland?
The Troubles.
What is a tactile source?
A source that you can touch.
When would rescue or salvage archaeology take place?
After a building development has unearthed an archaoeological site.
Name one different belief or practice that the pagans had that the Christians did not.
Polytheism (worshiped many gods), human sacrifice, did not believe in heaven or hell.
There have been multiple bog bodies discovered in Ireland; what is it about bogs that preserves bodies so well?
The lack of oxygen in bog water stops any organisms from decomposing the bodies.
What does AD stand for?
Anno Domini, or after the birth of Christ.
Define stratigraphy.
Dating an object by determining how deep it is in the soil.
What was the leader of a monastery called?
'Avengers: Endgame is the most financially successful film of all time.'
Is this an objective or subjective statement?
Objective, as the film IS the most financially succesful of all time.
Define history.
Recorded events that occurred during or after the development of writing.
Define conservation.
What name was given to the group of people who did not believe in Christianity?
Pagans.
We learned that Jesus was probably not born in December; why then do we celebrate Christmas on 25th December?
Because the Catholic Church tried to line up Jesus's birthday with the pagan festivals celebrating the winter solstice.
Events that occurred before the development of writing.
Define archaeology.
The study of the past through artefacts and physical remains.
What culture dominated Ireland when Christian missionaries arrived?
Celtic.
'Avengers: Endgame is, without a doubt, the greatest film ever made.' - Mr Ryan.
Is this statement objective or subjective?
Subjective, as it is an opinion.
What is propaganda?
Use of information to twist viewpoints.
With carbon-14 dating, archaeologists check how much carbon-14 is present in a dead organism; after death, does carbon-14 increase or decrease?
Decrease.
Name one Irish monastery.
St.Ciaran/Clonamacnoise
St.Brendan/Clonfert
St.Kevin/Glendalough
St.Finian/Clonard
St.Ita/Kileedy, Limerick
St.Bridid/Kildare
Kells
Why did monks wear tonsures?
What is a primary source?
Evidence that comes directly from the time of the event or from someone who witnessed the event.
Define 'chance discovery'.
The accidental finding of an archaeological site.
What was a pagan priest called?
Druid.
According to Mr Ryan, why did the Catholic Church choose snakes as the animal that St Patrick drove out of Ireland?
Because snakes are not native to Ireland, and they represent evil in Christianity.
In Latin, what does 'Chronos' mean?
Time.
Define dendrochronology.
What is a refectory?
Where monks ate.
Mr Ryan and Mr Rushe have argued over what the current year is; according to Mr Ryan, what is the NAME of the calendar that we use that tells us it is 2026?
Gregorian Calendar