The Burren and the Aran Islands form a region renowned for its geology, flora and archaeology. Possibly the greatest interest is in its archaeology but the ancient monuments are often perceived as shrouded in mystery and beyond explanation. Recent studies have shed considerable light on the functions of these monuments and the people who built them. This book presents these archaeological interpretations in an attractive and engaging manner. The book begins with a brief introduction and is then divided into two parts, the first dealing with the Burren, the second with the Aran Islands. Significant sites are highlighted while 'panel' features explain more tangential topics, e.g., how to build a wedge tomb. Contents include Colonisation and Early Settlement, From Neolithic to Bronze Age, The Celts, The Arrival of Christianity, Early Medieval Chiefs and their Stone Forts, and finally Later Tower Houses and Military Constructions. This is a heavily illustrated book. Captions are often extensive and can be read separately or in conjunction with the text. Overall it is designed to be read cover-to-cover or dipped into at random.
It will appeal to all with a previous interest in the region as well as visitors and tourists who want a clear, concise and attractively-presented explanation of the archaeology. Dr Jones writing transforms the dry academic material of excavation reports and archaeological inventories into an engaging and understandable story.