The Lost Civilizations of Ancient Ireland - Ireland Before the Celts II History Documentary

Описание: Pre-Celtic Ireland refers to the long and complex human history of the island before the arrival of Celtic languages and cultures in the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age. From around 8000 BCE, Ireland was settled by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers who lived along rivers, lakes, and coasts, relying on fishing, hunting, and seasonal foraging. Later, during the Neolithic period, farming communities transformed the landscape by clearing forests, cultivating crops, and building permanent settlements. This era produced some of the most remarkable prehistoric monuments in Europe, including passage tombs, court tombs, and portal dolmens, with sites such as Newgrange predating the Egyptian pyramids. These structures reveal advanced knowledge of stone construction, astronomy, and ritual practice.

In the Bronze Age, Ireland became part of wider Atlantic trade networks, exporting metals and participating in long-distance cultural exchange. Society grew more hierarchical, as seen in elite burials, gold ornaments, and fortified landscapes. Religious belief appears to have been closely tied to nature, ancestors, and the cycles of the sun and seasons, expressed through monuments, rock art, and sacred landscapes rather than written texts. Although later Celtic traditions came to dominate Ireland’s historical identity, much of what is often labeled “Celtic” rests upon foundations laid in this much older Pre-Celtic world. Understanding Pre-Celtic Ireland is therefore essential for grasping the deep roots of Irish culture, belief, and identity.