Ralaghan Idol facts for kids
The Ralaghan idol, also known as the "Ralaghan figure", is an amazing carved wooden figure. It was found in a bog in County Cavan, Ireland. This special figure was made during the late Bronze Age, which was a very long time ago! Today, you can see it at the National Museum of Ireland.
Scientists used a method called Radiocarbon dating to find out how old the wood is. They discovered that the figure was made between 1096 and 906 BC. That means it's over 3,000 years old!
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How the Ralaghan Idol Was Found
The Ralaghan idol was discovered by people cutting peat (dried bog material used as fuel). It was found in a small peat bog near the border of Ralaghan and Crossmakeelan. This area is in Shercock, County Cavan, Ireland.
The discovery was first announced in 1930 by Adolf Mahr. He was in charge of Irish ancient items at the National Museum in Dublin. Mahr said the figure was found lying face down. It was buried about 3 to 4 feet deep in the peat. No other old items were found nearby in the bog.
What Does the Ralaghan Idol Look Like?
The Ralaghan idol is about 113.5 centimeters (about 3.7 feet) tall. It is carved from a single piece of yew wood (Taxus baccata). Yew is a type of tree that was often linked to old stories and beliefs.
The figure has a carved head and neck, and a long body. It does not have any arms. It has two slightly bent legs and feet. The bottom of the figure ends in a sharp point. This point used to fit into a square wooden block, but that block is now missing.
Even though the figure has many cracks, its face has clear features. The left eye is a little higher than the right eye. The nose is not exactly in the middle. There might be some damage on the left side of its face.
There is also a hole carved into the figure. This hole gets wider inside the body. When it was examined, a small amount of white, grainy material was found inside. This material might have been quartz, a type of mineral.
Similar Ancient Wooden Figures
The Ralaghan idol is one of several ancient wooden figures found from prehistoric times. Some of these figures show both male and female features, or their gender is not clear. Other famous examples include the Dagenham idol and the Roos Carr figures. These figures give us clues about the beliefs of people who lived thousands of years ago.
See also
- Dagenham idol - a similar wooden figure found near London.
