Beginish house facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beginish house |
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| Native name Irish: Teachín Bheiginse |
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| Beiginis house | |
View over Beginish Island; the Viking house is visible as a stone ring at centre
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| Etymology | "little island" |
| Location | County Kerry |
| Nearest city | Cahersiveen |
| Elevation | 13 m (43 ft) |
| Built | c. 9th century AD |
| Owner | In state guardianship |
| Official name: Beginish Stone-built house | |
| Reference no. | 500 |
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The Beginish house is an ancient stone house in County Kerry, Ireland. It is a special place called a National Monument, which means it's protected because of its history. This house is linked to the time when Vikings lived in Ireland, many centuries ago.
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Where is the Beginish House?
The Beginish house is found on Beginish Island. This island is located in Valentia Harbour, a beautiful natural bay. The specific spot on the island is called Canroe, which means "the red headland" in Irish. It's a small island, perfect for a historic discovery!
Who Lived at Beginish?
This area was home to Vikings a very long time ago. They lived here between the 800s and the 1100s AD. Vikings were people from northern Europe, known for their long ships and exploring new lands. They settled in many places, including parts of Ireland. The Beginish house gives us clues about their daily lives.
What Was Found at Beginish?
When experts studied the Beginish site, they found more than just one house. They discovered eight stone houses in total. These houses were part of a larger settlement.
Ancient Farms and Shelters
Around the houses, there were signs of old field systems. These were areas where people grew crops. Imagine ancient farms right next to their homes! They also found 15 animal shelters, which were small buildings for keeping animals safe. This tells us that the people living here were farmers and kept livestock.
Mysterious Stone Piles
Archaeologists also found eight cairns. A cairn is a pile of stones, often built for a special purpose, like marking a grave or a boundary. These cairns add to the mystery of the Beginish settlement.
Special Discoveries Inside the Houses
Inside one of the houses, a very interesting item was found: a stone with a runic inscription. Runes are an ancient alphabet used by Vikings. This stone was used as a lintel, which is the stone beam above a doorway. Finding a runic inscription is very exciting because it's like a message from the past! Other small items found included a bone pin and a comb, giving us a glimpse into the everyday objects people used.
Images for kids
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View over Beginish Island; the Viking house is visible as a stone ring at centre
