Kerongsang Kelt: Perbedaan antara revisi

The [[Vikings]] began to raid Ireland from 795, with catastrophic effect for the [[monastery|monasteries]] in particular. However, although the Vikings established several [[longphort]]s, initially fortified encampments for over-wintering, and later towns like [[Dublin]], [[Wexford]], [[Cork (city)|Cork]], and [[Waterford]] (the first real urban centres in Ireland), the native Irish were more successful than the English and Scots in preventing large-scale Viking takeovers of areas for settlement by farmers. By about the year 1000, the situation was relatively stable, with a mixed population of [[Norse-Gaels]] in the towns and areas close to them, while the Gaelic Irish, whose elite often formed political alliances, trading partnerships and inter-marriages with Viking leaders, remained in control of the great majority of the island, and were able to draw tribute from the Viking towns.<ref>Ship, Doherty, 34–35</ref>

 

The period is characterised by a greatly increased availability of silver, presumably the result of Viking raiding and trading, and most brooches are made from silver throughout, as gilding and decoration in other materials nearly disappears. The brooches are often large and relatively massive, but plainer than the most elaborate earlier ones, neither using older local decorative styles nor the Viking styles that were adopted in other media. This continues a trend that can be detected in later brooches from the preceding period, before much Viking influence can have made itself felt. The 9th century [[Roscrea Brooch]] is one of a number of transitional brooches; though its form is highly ornate, with a large flat triangular pin head, the ring is thick plain silver, the gold filigree panels occupy relatively small areas, and their workmanship is a "coarse" or "crude" imitation of that of earlier works.<ref>NMI, 215–216, and 230, "crude"; Youngs, no. 79, "coarse". [http://www.unc.edu/celtic/catalogue/brooches/roscrea.html Illustration here]</ref> The Kilamery Brooch is another ornate and high quality example, with a marked emphasis on plain flat silver surfaces.<ref>NMI, 215; [http://www.unc.edu/celtic/catalogue/brooches/kilamery.html photo]</ref> There are rare exceptions in which a highly decorated brooch shows Scandinavian stylistic and technical influence, notably an Irish brooch from [[Rathlin Island]], with areas stamped where the Irish tradition would have used casting.<ref>Ship, O'Floinn, 90;</ref>