Peter Harbison facts for kids

Peter Desmond Harbison (born 1939, died 2023) was an important Irish archaeologist and writer. An archaeologist studies old things to learn about the past. Peter Harbison was known for his many books about Ireland's history and ancient art. He helped many people learn about Ireland's rich past.

Peter Harbison: Exploring Ireland's Past

Peter Harbison was a Professor of Archaeology. He was also a member of the Royal Irish Academy, which is a group of top experts in Ireland. He was elected to this group in 1979. He also worked as an editor for the Academy.

He was an honorary Fellow at Trinity College Dublin. This is a special title given to people who have done great things. He was also an honorary member of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. Peter Harbison wrote an amazing 36 books during his life!

His Big Books on High Crosses

One of Peter Harbison's most important works was a three-book series called The High Crosses of Ireland. He published these books in 1992. High crosses are tall, stone crosses with carvings that tell stories. They are found all over Ireland.

Besides this big scientific work, Peter Harbison wrote many other books. These books were for everyone, not just experts. They helped people learn about Ireland's early history and its beautiful ancient art.

Discovering Old Drawings

Peter Harbison also worked with old historical drawings. The National Library of Ireland received a collection from Austin Cooper (1759-1830). These were drawings and notes about old places in Ireland.

The Director of the Library asked Peter Harbison to publish them. He created a book called 'Cooper's Ireland: Drawings and Notes from an Eighteenth-Century Gentleman'. Peter Harbison thought these drawings were very important. They showed how Ireland's historic buildings looked in the late 1700s.

Sharing Irish Art and History

In 1978, Peter Harbison published his first art book. It was called "Irish Art and Architecture". He wrote it with Homan Potterton and Jeanne Sheehy. Homan Potterton was the director of the Irish National Gallery. This book looked at Irish art up to the year 1600 AD.

In 1988, his book Pre-Christian Ireland won a special award. It was called the British Archaeological Book Award. Another important art book he wrote was The Golden Age of Irish Art. This book focused on art from the Middle Ages in Ireland, between the years 600 and 1200 AD.