Archaeological finds at an Irish ringfort reveal medieval leisure activities

Archaeologists uncovered evidence of gaming, literacy, and music at the Caherconnell Cashel, a large ringfort in the Burren region of western Ireland.

The site served as a home for wealthy local rulers from the late 10th century to the early 17th century. While the site contains remains of farming and industry, the team also found items suggesting that the inhabitants engaged in more refined social activities. The team recovered various gaming pieces made of bone, antler, metal, clay, and stone.

One specific find is an 11th-century barrel-shaped antler piece with a bronze stem, which researchers associate with hnefatafl. This was a board game used by the Saxons and Vikings that appeared in Ireland around the 9th or 10th century. These games provided both entertainment and a way to practice strategy. The excavation also revealed an 11th-century pen made from a swan bone and a bronze nib.

Because this find is in a secular context, it suggests that the residents of the fort used writing for recordkeeping and personal use. This discovery is unique because evidence of early literacy in Ireland is usually found only at church sites. Additionally, the team found bone and bronze tuning pegs from the 11th century. These pegs were used for stringed instruments like the lyre, which were used to perform music and poetry for social and political purposes.