Ross Island, Killarney facts for kids
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Ross Island is a piece of land that sticks out into Lough Leane in Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Ireland. It's shaped a bit like a claw. This special place is home to the famous Ross Castle. It also has old, unused copper mines that tell an amazing story about ancient times.
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Ross Island: A Place of Ancient Mines
Ross Island is famous for its very old copper mines. People believe that the copper found here was used to make some of the first metal tools in Ireland. These tools date back to a time called the Pre-Bronze Age, around 2,400 to 2,200 BC. This was even before the main Bronze Age began!
What Was Found Here?
Archaeologists, who are like history detectives, have found many interesting things on Ross Island. They discovered tools made from copper, such as:
- Copper axe heads
- Halberds (these were like a mix of a spear and an axe)
- Knife and dagger blades
These ancient copper tools have been found all over Ireland and even in parts of western Britain. This shows that the copper from Ross Island was very important and traveled far.
How They Got the Copper
Scientists have dug up parts of the old mining areas on Ross Island. They also found a special camp where the copper ore was processed. Copper ore is rock that contains copper metal. At this camp, the ancient people would heat the ore to get the pure copper out. This process is called smelting.
Ancient Metalworking Skills
The copper metal from Ross Island has a unique "fingerprint." This means scientists can tell exactly where the metal in the ancient tools came from. The way they worked with metal back then was quite advanced. It suggests that the people on Ross Island might have learned these skills from other parts of Europe, especially from places along the coast from Spain to Normandy.
Pottery and Trade
The mining and metalworking on Ross Island were connected to a type of pottery called "beaker pottery." This pottery is known for its bell shape and decorations. The copper mining continued for a long time, until about 1,900 BC. This shows that Ross Island was a busy and important place in ancient Ireland.
