Join Museum staff, archaeologists and scientists, in exhibitions, laboratories, and at archaeological sites and monuments, to discover what archaeologists and museums do, and the archaeology and objects of Early Christian Ireland.
This set of resources consists of videos, comic strips and activities for Post-Primary students to use when learning about archaeology and Early Christian Ireland. For information about links to the Junior Cert Curriculum see the Teachers Notes, accessible at the end of the page.
Video Resources
The videos, each with a duration of 30 minutes, explore the archaeology of the valley of Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, and objects which are on display in a new museum exhibition, Glendalough: Power, Prayer and Pilgrimage.
The videos were developed by the Museum’s Education Department, with the exhibition curator and Mahoo Productions, to appeal to Junior Cert audiences. A set of comic strip style images by artist Steve Doogan are used within the videos and through the resource for illustrating more complex historical themes, and scientific dating techniques.
Video 1: Glendalough: Artefacts and Archaeology
This video explores the role of archaeologist in Ireland, different types of evidence from object analysis, and the role of the Museum. It was created for history teachers and students to use when learning about archaeology, museums, and artefacts as holders of evidence during the Junior Cert Cycle.
The videos show views of the new exhibition about Glendalough, as well as footage of behind the scenes views of the Museum's laboratories, archives, and stores. Other segments were filmed at National Monument sites and the National Park at Glendalough, the UCD Centre for Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture, and the Radio Carbon dating laboratory, 14CHRONO, at Queens University, Belfast. There are contributions from a wide range of specialists, including Museum staff, scientists, archaeologists from the School of Archaeology at UCD, The Discovery Programme, Radio Carbon Dating laboratory 14CHRONO at Queens University, Belfast, and independent researchers.
Video 2 : Glendalough: Artefacts and Early Christianity.
A video exploring the impact of the arrival of Christianity on Ireland, as reflected in the objects, art-work, burial practices, writing, and buildings of the time. It follows history of the famous monastic valley, explores the external influences on Glendalough, the impact of the arrival of Christianity, regional power struggles, and the connections between the site, the wider hinterland and Europe. It is created for history teachers and students to use when learning about what archaeology can tell us about the impact of the arrival of Christianity on culture in Ireland.
A significant amount of footage was shot in the exhibition, but it also includes segments filmed about the iconic Ardagh Chalice, and footage of behind the scenes views of the Museum's laboratories, archives, and stores. The video explores what key objects can tell us about cultural and social developments in early Christian Ireland. Objects, such as Ogham stones, ‘the Ardagh Chalice’, and relics, as well as pottery, clothing and monuments in the landscape, are discussed by Museum staff to see what we can tell about the impact of Christianity on beliefs and daily life.
Student Activities
These activities are for students to complete after viewing the videos, by either converting the PDF to an iBook and completing on a tablet, or printing out the document. They can use the PDFs of the Comic Strip illustrations for assistance, and print or view online.
NMI Glendalough Resource Video 1 Student Activities
NMI Glendalough Resource Video 2 Student Activities
For reference purposes there also are transcripts of the video here.
NMI Glendalough Resource Video 1 Transcript
NMI Glendalough Resource Video 2 Transcript
Comic Strips
A comic strip for each video by artist, Steve Doogan, was commissioned and developed for illustrating more complex historical themes, and scientific dating techniques. The comic strips can be printed out or viewed online in either A3 or A4 format, as below.
NMI Glendalough Resource A3 Comic Strip
NMI Glendalough Resource A4 Comic Strip
Teachers Notes
For more information about how to use the resource, the content and links to the links to Junior Cert Statements of Learning & Skill Development, and the Specification, Strands and Learning Outcomes for Junior Cert History see the Introduction for Teachers
NMI Glendalough Resource Teacher’s Intro