rs the Bronze age technology had been replaced by Iron Age Celtic technology. The effect of this new Iron Age cannot be over emphasized. Suddenly iron axes and iron farming equipment began to have a dramatic effect on the landscape. Perhaps one of the greatest changes introduced into Ireland during the Iron age was the making of iron swords and spears. Staigue Fort in Co. Kerry is a wonderful example of a late Iron Age Stone Fort. A new culture began to evolve and expand from east of central Europe.Celts were an Indo-European group and quite rapidly Celtic influence spread over much of Europe. They possessed the technology to work iron and as it is a much stronger metal than bronze the Celts had a great advantage over their neighbours in battle. The early half of the iron-age is known as the Hallstatt period after the town of that name where a large cemetery was discovered in 846 and the designs of the grave goods found are an indication of the extent of Celtic expansion at that time. Evolving out of the Halstatt culture came the La TГЁne and this was to take Celtic influence and language from Anatolia in Turkey to Ireland in the west, from Danmark in the north to Iberia in the south. In Ireland the first sign of Celtic influence is usually dated between 800BC and 400BC (some would suggest an earlier date for the Celtic language) and is represented by carved stone work and worked metal but it is only from around 300BC that a distinctive Iron-age is recognised as having taken hold in Ireland, particul arly in the northern half which would suggest that Antrim was the gateway for Celtic influence to enter Ireland.
It is reflected from the designs, in the La TГЁne style, that have been recovered. Whilst some of these rare artefacts are thought to have been imported from the continent (Ardnaglug collars, Roman coins, etc) others are indigenous. Recognisable and distinctly Irish made objects of bronze and gold have been recovered from bogs and marshes. Many of the artefacts are parts of hoards and consist of items of personal adornment, (Celts seemed to have a particular fondness for beautifully decorated torcs and broaches), weapons, tools, horse adornments and feasting equipment. The Broighter Hoard from County Derry (near Limavady), found by Tom Nicholl in 1 896 is such a one. Made of gold it consists of a beautiful 18cm boat complete with mast, oars, hook and grappling iron. There is also a beautiful hollow torc decorated in the La TГЁne style, two necklaces, a bowl and two bar torcs. It is thought that these were votive offerings and are on view at the National Museum of Ireland . Iron-age artefacts removed from the bogs include leather shields, remains of wheel...
