Springmount Bog Tablets facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Springmount Bog Tablets |
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|---|---|
| National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology | |
| Type | Psalter |
| Date | circa 700 |
| Place of origin | Ireland |
| Language(s) | Vulgar Latin |
| Material | wood and wax |
| Size | 7.5 × 21.0 cm |
| Script | Irish majuscule |
| Contents | Psalms 30–32 |
| Discovered | 1914 |
The Springmount Bog Tablets are a special set of six wooden tablets. They were found in 1914 in a bog in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. These tablets are like a small book made of wood and wax.
They contain parts of the Book of Psalms written on their wax surfaces. These tablets are very important because they are the oldest known examples of Irish writing using the Latin script. They were even chosen as one of "100 items representing A History of Ireland in 100 Objects".
Contents
Finding the Ancient Tablets
The Springmount Bog Tablets were discovered in 1914. A person named W. Gregg found them while he was cutting peat. Peat is a type of soil made from old plants, often found in bogs.
He found the tablets about four feet deep in the Springmount Bog. This bog is also known as Ballyhutherland Bog. It is located near the village of Clough in County Antrim.
Where the Tablets Are Now
After finding them, Mr. Gregg sold the tablets. They were bought by the National Museum of Ireland in 1914. Today, you can see them at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology. This museum is located on Kildare Street in Dublin, Ireland.
What the Tablets Look Like
The Springmount Bog Tablets are made from yew wood. There are six tablets in total. They are tied together along one side with a leather string. Two leather straps also keep the book closed at the top and bottom.
Each tablet is about 7.5 centimeters wide and 21.0 centimeters long. They are about 0.7 centimeters thick. The inside of the tablets was carved out. This space was then filled with wax.
Writing on Wax Pages
The wax parts of the tablets were used as writing surfaces. This created a wooden book with ten pages. When they were found, some of the wax had melted. Also, some wax was damaged when the tablets were opened.
Even so, much of the writing can still be read. The text is from the Book of Psalms. Specifically, it contains parts of Psalms 30 through 32. This text was written using a special tool called a stylus.
The Style of Writing
The writing is laid out in two columns on most pages. The letters are written in a style called "Irish majuscule." This style is also known as Insular half-uncial. It was a common way of writing in Ireland long ago.
The Latin text is from a version of the Psalms called the Gallican version. This version was created by a scholar named Jerome.
How Old Are the Tablets?
Experts have studied the writing style on the tablets. This study is called palaeography. Based on this, they believe the tablets were made in the late 7th century.
In 1963, a scholar named David H. Wright suggested they were made around the year 600. This date is now generally accepted by most experts.
Who Used the Tablets?
It is thought that the tablets came from a monastery. Monasteries were places where monks lived and studied. This monastery would have been close to where the tablets were found.
The tablets were likely used for teaching. They probably helped people learn to read and write. They also helped people memorize parts of the Psalms.
More Ancient Discoveries
- Faddan More Psalter: This is another ancient psalter found in a peat bog. It dates to the 9th century and was discovered in 2006.
- Cathach of St. Columba: This is a very old Irish psalter from the 7th century.
