FARMING, FOOD & COOKING
Since bronze age settlements were surrounded by wattle and daub fences, it is reasonable to suggest that their animals were kept in these enclosures to protect them from the brown bears and wolves that roamed in Ireland at that time.
FARM ANIMALS:
The first farmers came to Ireland about 5800 years ago, about 1500 years before the bronze age so farming was a natural way of life. One or two families lived in the enclosures. There would have been a couple of circular farm houses, places for food storage, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses.
CROPS:
The crops were grown in paddocks outside the enclosure. Land was dug using wooden spades and ploughs. Wheat, barley and flax were planted by hand and the crops were harvested using bronze sickles before being ground into flour using saddle querns. Flax was a valuable crop because it could be used for food, for making a crude linen to wearand also for oil.
CONTAINERS:
Some of their containers were made of alder, willow or oak wood or willow basketry, and other containers were made of pottery. The clay for making this pottery around Labbacalle would probably have come from the banks of the River Funcheon. The folk probably made their pottery out of coils of clay placed one on top of the other.
COOKING IN THE FULACHT FIA
This was a marvellous method of cooking. A large flat bottomed hole was dug in a marshy spot. This was then lined with wood, stone and clay and allowed to harden so it became non porous. Later, it was filled with water. A large pile of logs was lined up beside the trough of water. This was lit and stones were thrown into the fire. When the stones were red hot, they were rolled into the water which created a boiling pot. The meat, in the meantime had been wrapped in straw and this was then popped into the large pot. No doubt, when the meat was cooked and eaten, the bronze age people probably had a dip in the warm greasy water. Why not!
FARM ANIMALS:
The first farmers came to Ireland about 5800 years ago, about 1500 years before the bronze age so farming was a natural way of life. One or two families lived in the enclosures. There would have been a couple of circular farm houses, places for food storage, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses.
CROPS:
The crops were grown in paddocks outside the enclosure. Land was dug using wooden spades and ploughs. Wheat, barley and flax were planted by hand and the crops were harvested using bronze sickles before being ground into flour using saddle querns. Flax was a valuable crop because it could be used for food, for making a crude linen to wearand also for oil.
CONTAINERS:
Some of their containers were made of alder, willow or oak wood or willow basketry, and other containers were made of pottery. The clay for making this pottery around Labbacalle would probably have come from the banks of the River Funcheon. The folk probably made their pottery out of coils of clay placed one on top of the other.
COOKING IN THE FULACHT FIA
This was a marvellous method of cooking. A large flat bottomed hole was dug in a marshy spot. This was then lined with wood, stone and clay and allowed to harden so it became non porous. Later, it was filled with water. A large pile of logs was lined up beside the trough of water. This was lit and stones were thrown into the fire. When the stones were red hot, they were rolled into the water which created a boiling pot. The meat, in the meantime had been wrapped in straw and this was then popped into the large pot. No doubt, when the meat was cooked and eaten, the bronze age people probably had a dip in the warm greasy water. Why not!