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Milesians and the Dearth of La Tene in Munster

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  • 28-04-2015 6:17pm
    #1
    markesmith
    Registered Users Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭


    Just finished reading Mallory's Origins of the Irish. Highly recommended, if you haven't checked it out.

    A thought struck me. We currently speak of the Halstatt and La Tene 'homelands' in central Europe / Eastern France, but a new theory is saying that the Celtic homeland may have arisen in the Iberian peninsula.

    Is it possible that, when the Irish enter recorded history, they aren't lying when they say they 'came from Spain'? Is it possible that they represent the end of successive migrations (over several generations) north, through France, into Britain and across to Ireland from southwest Scotland?

    As a side question, what are your theories on why Munster is so devoid of La Tene finds?

    Sorry, just riffing here really, but interested in your opinions on this.


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    #2
    Ipso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    Milesians are a way to connect Ireland to classical and biblical literature.
    Mil deHespane already existed in Welsh mythology and had a biblical pedigree, so he was a good person for Christian monks to attach the Irish to.
    Mallory gives a good rebuttal of the story in the book.
    I think LaTene material in Ireland (aren't they mainly Irish made copies) came from Scotland and North England, one contender is the cruithin and maybe the Brigantes who ended up in Leinster.
    It may be a case that these groups couldn't make it into Munster.


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    #3
    markesmith
    Registered Users Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭markesmith


    Isn't it strange that the Welsh have this origin myth? Why Spain? Is there a chance that there's some truth to this? As in, a migration from Spain, through France, and into Britain?


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    #4
    Ipso
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,995 ✭✭✭Ipso


    Here is a bit more about the Milesians.
    http://www.ancestraljourneys.org/originstories.shtml#Milesian


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    #5
    robp
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,934 ✭✭✭robp


    markesmith wrote: »
    Just finished reading Mallory's Origins of the Irish. Highly recommended, if you haven't checked it out.

    A thought struck me. We currently speak of the Halstatt and La Tene 'homelands' in central Europe / Eastern France, but a new theory is saying that the Celtic homeland may have arisen in the Iberian peninsula.

    Is it possible that, when the Irish enter recorded history, they aren't lying when they say they 'came from Spain'? Is it possible that they represent the end of successive migrations (over several generations) north, through France, into Britain and across to Ireland from southwest Scotland?

    As a side question, what are your theories on why Munster is so devoid of La Tene finds?

    Sorry, just riffing here really, but interested in your opinions on this.

    Perhaps strong power structures left over from the Bronze Age and copper mining did not allow this.


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