Archaeology of the Cistercian Monastery in Ireland
Introduction
Over the years, archaeologists have studied the establishment of monasteries in the world. In the early centuries, many monasteries were established in Europe. Ireland is one of the countries where many monasteries were developed in the early centuries. The monasteries served as places of worship in those days. They were considered unique places where peoples could worship and praise God. In other words, they were considered to be sacred.
Apart from religious practices, the monasteries were used for other activities. The dwellers of the monasteries performed some of their days to day activities in the sites (Edwards, 2017). The monks inhabited the monasteries until the 1950s during the dissolution of the monasteries. Different researchers, archaeologists, and government authorities have investigated the developments and collapse of the various monasteries.
This thesis aims at investigating the archaeological and living conditions of two sites that are, Bective Abbey and Tintern Abbey of country Wexford. The two sites are some of the renowned monasteries in Ireland. The purpose of this investigation is to identify the similarities and differences between the two sites. As far as archaeology is concerned, this thesis will be necessary for researchers and academic purposes. It will be used as a reference to other publications on a similar area of study.
Despite the availability of various studies carried out by different researchers, some people cannot differentiate between the two sites. The characteristics and the lifestyle of the two sites confuse those who are not familiar with the archaeological facts about the two sites. The lack of adequate knowledge and research on a particular subject is one of the reasons why many people have difficulties in understanding the whole aspect of the Cistercian monastery in Ireland. Therefore, this thesis will provide adequate information for a better understanding of the differences and similarities between the two sites.
The background of the research problem is attributed to the survey done to determine where the Irish community has a good understanding of the sites or not. The research carried out by a group of researchers from institutions of higher learning discovered that the Irish community was not aware of some aspects of the monastery in Ireland. Correctly, most of the respondents could not differentiate between the living standards of the two sites in question.
Ideally, the response provided by the people fuelled the need to explore the study of the archaeology of the Cistercians monastery in Ireland (Stout et al., 2016). The best approach was to study the two main sites in particular areas where the research was carried out.
The general approach of this thesis involves studying the various publications and historical archives on the two sites. The previous publications of the authors will help in identifying the characteristics of the two sites. In this case, the books that were written in the early centuries will be considered. The authors who had the opportunity to visit the sites when the monks still occupied them wrote good content about the particular sites. Besides, the thesis focuses on physical observation. The analysis of the physical structures will require physical consideration.
The main criteria for the success of this thesis will depend on the content analysis of the documentations and the observations made on the sites. A thorough analysis of the documentation will be done to create a clear picture of the research problem. The analysis will include the critical aspects of the sites since the establishment of the sites until the dissolution of the monasteries in Ireland. Due to technological advancements, some of the documentation is available on the internet. Therefore, the success of the thesis will depend on the quality and documentation used to analyze the acts.
Theory
The Cistercians of the Roman Catholic religious order dates back to the year 1098. The establishment of the Cistercians resulted from the contribution of various people. St Robert is one of the pioneers of the establishment of the Cistercians or the monks of the Roman Catholic religious order in 1098. St Bernard of Clairvaux is considered as the second father of the white monks (Harney, 2017). The idea of Cistercians relates to various European countries, particularly Italy and France. In Italy, Rome is regarded as the initial city where Roman Catholicism was established. France is one of the countries that plaid a crucial role in the development of the Cistercians in Europe.
By the end of the 12th Century, there were 530 Cistercian abbeys. This number of the abbeys was an indication that the number the monks increased rapidly. The expansion of Cistercians was attributed to the influence of other monks. In the 12th Century, many people were influenced by the religious practices in Europe. During that time, religion spread faster as compared to the postcolonial period. Religious practices and the lifestyle of the monks were the main factors that contributed to the spread of Cistercians in Europe (Hedstrom, 2018).
The monks experienced different problems, such as poverty. Therefore, they decided to engage in other activities that would help them in addressing various issues. Research indicates that the monks lived according to the writings of St Bernard. The monks considered arming as the main activity to reduce poverty in Europe. As a result, this practice led to the development of agricultural practices in Europe. Agriculture was considered as the main occupation (Kerr et al., 2018). Today, agricultural practices play a key role in economic growth. Also, agriculture serves as the source of income for many families in Europe. People depend on agriculture either directly or indirectly.
The monks had their customs and beliefs. They practiced different life issues based on their norms and beliefs. In England, the first Abbey was built in 1125 by Tintern and Rievaulx. Afterward, the construction of other abbeys was done in Ireland and other parts of Europe. By 1152, there were approximately 40 abbeys (Duffy, 2017). The lifestyle and life practices differed from one Abbey to another. However, some practices were similar in all monasteries. Bective Abbey and Tintern Abbey are not exempted from the similarities and differences.
This theoretical perspective of the introduction of Cistercians in Europe explains the basis of this thesis. The thesis is designed to explore the attribution and experiences of the monks on the two abbeys. The primary role of the theoretical assumption is to link the findings to the previous facts about the establishment of Cistercian. In this case, the theory relates to the contributions of various Saints in the early Century (Mhaonaigh, 2016). The theory also portrays the spread of Cistercian in Europe. As far as the Cistercian in Europe is concerned, Ireland is one of the countries where many abbeys were located.
Materials, apparatus, and procedures
This thesis used the relevant materials and procedures to come up with relevant findings. The first suitable material in this study is the availability of research resources. In any research, there are various resources, including financial and human capital. The human capital will be used to gather information on the subject matter.
Moreover, financial resources play an essential role in almost all stages of the research. The search for information will require the availability of funds. For instance, some books are only available on monetary terms. Therefore financial resources will be used to find more reliable sources of information. The data will be collected using available materials.
The materials and procedures will be based on the research problem. More emphasis will be put on particular aspects of Cistercian in Ireland. Due to the continuous improvements of the sites, some of the information may not be available by observation. Some of the monastery sites in Ireland are ruined (Burton and Stober, 2016). Therefore, documentation will play an important role than physical observation. More emphasis and focus will be put in the identification o books and journals that have the relevant information needed.
The two books by Mathew Stout and Ann Lynch will play a significant role in finding the history of the establishment of the two sites. The information about the two sites in question was written by various authors that had an opportunity to learn more about their historical nature. Mainly, the authors focused on the archaeological aspects of the two sites. The two books act as the background of the research problem. The authors tried to explain their perception and research on the abbeys.
Another relevant material is the internet. In modern society, the internet is one of the best sources of information. The internet contains almost all the information that has been published by various authors. Google Scholar and Emerald knowledge are some of the essential platforms to find excellent resources. The data from these two sites are considered to be reliable.
The thesis will also incorporate peer-reviewed articles and journals written by other scholars. Statistics indicate that internet usage has increased over the last years. The increase in internet usage is also contributed to the information search. The internet will be used to gather information about the two sites.
As far as the information search is concerned, the thesis will focus on three essential aspects. The first aspect is the economy. When the monks lived in the abbeys, they engaged in various activities to boot economic performance. These economic practices varied from one Abbey to another. However, some practices were similar. Just like a physical world, the Cistercian in Ireland contributes to the development of economic practices in the country. The economic element aims at determining the practices that the monks engaged in the two abbeys.
Religious practices were the main reason or the formation of the abbeys. According to researchers, the Roman Catholic was the main religious order that contributed to the spread of Cistercian in Europe. The monasteries were used as religious and sacred places of worship. The common bond that united the monks was a religion (Hamlin and Brannon, 2018).
Today, the Roman Catholic is one of the most significant Christians in denominations. Having started with a small group of believers, the Roman Catholic has rapidly grown to a big church comprising of millions of congregants around the world. Today, Rome serves as the headquarter of the Roman Catholic religious orders. The role played by Rome is the relation to Catholicism is evident by the act that almost all popes that have ever led the Roman Catholic resided in Rome.
The other important aspect of this thesis is the layout of the building in the two abbeys. The structures were built strategically to meet the objective of their establishment. The divisions of the buildings and the presence of the towers played different roles.
The design of the structures differed from one site to another. The buildings were constructed to achieve the main purpose. Due to differences in the practices carried out in these abbeys, the layout of the buildings was structured differently. The similarities and variations will be developed from the three perspectives of the monasteries.
In this thesis, the first procedure is the identification of the relevant areas of study. After that, the data collection will be based on content analysis of the previous documentations on the three areas of study. In regards to economic aspects, the thesis will explore the various activities that have been recorded by authors to have been used by the occupants of the sites. Moreover, the religious aspects will be analyses as per the Abbey.
The practices in Bective Abbey will be compared to those of Tintern Abbey. After collecting the information, the next step will be to analyze the data. The data will represent the actual practices and perceptions of the monks who occupied the sites from the early centuries. The availability of the materials will be an indication of the success of the thesis. Ideally, people will learn from the findings and the information provided in this thesis. The focus on the three areas will provide adequate information to address the research problem.
Results
This section contains actual information and findings. The results are depicted from the real phenomenon described in various publications. In any thesis, the result section addresses the research problem and the importance of the findings. The results are accompanied by the different assumptions of authors and previous contributors to literature.
The result section also addresses the characteristics and lifestyles of the two sites. The accuracy of the results relies on the act that the data were analyzed according to the three-element of the thesis. They include economy, religious practices, and the layout of buildings in the two sites.
Tintern Abbey
Tintern Abbey of Ireland dates back to 1200 AD when William Marshall sailed along the Bannow Bay in the country Wexford. William Marshal promised to build an abbey in the place that he will land after praying to God or safe passage on the water. Having landed successfully, he decided to build a monastery there. He named it after one of the abbeys in South Wales that he was previously a patron (Haas, 2016). For clarity purposes and to avoid confusion, he named the Abbey in Ireland as ‘Tintern of the Vow’ or ‘Tintern de voto’.
After the completion of the Abbey in the 12th Century, William Marshall decided to call upon the monks to occupy the newly constructed Abbey. Tintern Abbey became one of the wealthiest Cistercian monasteries in Ireland. Sources indicate that the Abbey became a private residence of one of the influential families in Ireland after its dissolution. Tintern Abbey was dissolved under the rule of King Henry III in the 16th Century. The great Cistercian monastery was dissolved during the period of massive dissolution of such sites (Alonzi et al., 2019). Therefore, it was not exempted based on the fact that it was one of the wealthiest abbeys in Ireland.
The main reason for the construction of Tintern Abbey was religious practices. Notably, William Marshal prayed to God to grant him journey mercies when a strong storm hit the water body. In his prayer, he promised that he would build a religious place upon his arrival on safe land. After arriving safely, he believed that God answered his prayers. He then decided to honor his promise to honor God or His goodness and mercies. The background of the establishment of the Abbey inducted that the main idea was to establish a religious place where people could pray to God.
After the dissolution of this monastic Abbey, Antony Colclough and his family moved into the monastery and made some modifications. In the 16th Century, Antony Colclough constructed a wall around the monastery. Previously, the wall was not there when the monks occupied it. The primary role of the wall was to defend him from any attack by the enemies.
Moreover, he extended the wall to the neighboring estates and constructed a bridge across the river. These changes replaced the previous simple structures that were initially constructed by William Marshall. Generally, the new residence looked differently as far as the structures were concerned. In 1963, the Abbey was taken or state ownership.
According to William Wordsworth, Tintern Abbey was a healing place. In his book, ‘Lines written above Tintern Abbey,’ he believed that the pace was one of the best religious places in the world (Fetterman, 2015). He also believed that the religious activities in the Abbey played a vital role in the success of the monastery. The monks lived a religious life in the Abbey in their day to day activities. Having experienced nature the Abbey, he was able to recall whatever he experienced.
Also, William Wordsworth stated that Tintern Abbey was a beautiful place with an edible landscape. He added that the beauty of the Abbey was attributed to the serene suburbs in the area. His poem aimed at encouraging people that the Abbey did present not only physical beauty but also the beauty of life. The presence of the flowers at Tintern abbey was a metaphor for the situations in life. Based on his memory, he noted that Tintern Abbey was a place or revolutionary religious activity. The area is said to have promoted good morals in the country.
The Tintern Abbey had an infirmary cloister close to the infirmary hall where sick monks could go to get fresh air. The place was comfortable and heated. The abbey monks took a concern for the sick. Apart from the prayer rooms, the Abbey was constructed to meet the needs of all monks. The sick were taken care of to ensure that everyone was in good health condition (Drain, 2017). Today, many churches are operating affiliate hospitals to assist the sick in society. Actually, some of the churches offer free medical services to help humanity. These practices have roots in the great Cistercian monastery.
There was also a kitchen where the vegetarian food was cooked. The Abbey cared for the well-being of the monks as far as meals were concerned. The aspect of vegetarian food indicated that the main economic activity was farming. The vegetables were gotten from the firms. Farming enabled the monks to produce enough food or their daily lifestyle. Ideally, food is one of the important actors in human life.
Moreover starvation causes death. The monks ensured that there was enough food that could feed them every day. The life at Tintern Abbey was favorable to the monks. Today, some churches are offering food aid to communities that do not have food. Such practices originated from the ancient Cistercian monasteries.
The chapter room was also present at the Tintern abbey. The monks used the room daily. They went there to listen to Benedict’s rules and what was expected from them as far as day to day business of the Abbey was concerned. The presence of this room indicated that the monks lived under the rules of Benedict.
Today, people are governed by laws and regulations in different sectors of the economy. Consequently, churches operate under some rules and regulations (Enongene and Griffin, 2016). The rules and regulations have promoted morality and ethical conduct in society.
In summary, Tintern Abbey was one of the wealthiest Cistercian monasteries as far as the structure of the building is concerned. The green carpet on the floor of the church contributed to the beauty of the Abbey. The availability of different rooms that served specific purposes promoted a good lifestyle in the Abbey. The monks engaged in various day to day activities following the provisions of Benedict’s rules (Nicholson, 2018). The site is a historical symbol that is currently ruined. Tourists from different countries visit the ruins to learn more about Tintern Abbey.
Bective Abbey
Bective Abbey is one of the Cistercian monasteries in Ireland. The Abbey was founded in 1174 by Murchad O’Maeil-Sheachlainn. The Abbey is located near River Boyne, Country Meath, Ireland. In the 1530s, the Abbey and the estates around them were confiscated. The dissolution of the Abbey happened when other abbeys in the country were being dissolved. The Abbey was rented to Thomas Asgard (Collins, 2017). He lived in the Abbey until the year 1552 when Andrew Wyse purchased the building. In the early 21st Century, the building was partially owned by the state as a national monument.
According to recent excavations, evidence of large-scale cereals processing has been found. In the ancient days, the place was used for processing cereals to produce various products that were used for day to day activities. Research has revealed that the processing industry was one of the main economic activities of the monks who lived in the Abbey. The monks ensured that the economy grew through the production of goods and services to help the people. The cereals were produced from the arms (Gardiner, 2018). This is an indication that the people practiced farming on a large scale.
The excavation has also revealed evidence of the existence of the monastic kitchen garden. In this place, herbs and vegetable salads were grown. The herbs were used to cure anyone who was sick. Some medical specialists administered the herbs to the sick. On the other hand, vegetable salads, and fruits were used for meals (Bell, 2016). The monks ensured that there was a continuous flow of food items through persistent farming. These activities promoted a good life in the Abbey. Archaeologists have identified various practices that were carried out by the monks who occupied the Bective abbey in the early centuries.
Furthermore, excavation has revealed the existence of the evidence of a fishing weir on the Boyne. Because the monastic Abbey was constructed close to the river, the people took advantage of the opportunities. Therefore, they embarked on fishing to meet their daily needs. At that time, fishing was meant for domestic consumption.
The fishermen ensured that there was enough food for the people. The landscape of the Abbey was suitable for fishing. The three economic activities promoted a good lifestyle in the Abbey as far as an occupation was concerned. People engaged in activities that they could do better. For instance, the fishermen did their work while those who could farm ensured that the garden was maintained (Jackman, 2016).
Some discoveries have provided evidence of heraldic floor tiles in the Bective Abbey. The availability of these tiles decorated the Abbey as one of the most beautiful places in those times. The landscape and the availability of a spacious floor enabled the constructors to lay good tiles for the beautification of the place.
However, research indicates that the tiles were placed during a renovation in the early 15th Century (Lavin, 2017). The evidence showed that the tiles were bearing the arms of Gearoid Mór Fitzgerald, 8th earl of Kildare. Similar tiles were discovered in Dublin, Ireland. This indicated that the renovations were done during his reign.
Bective Abbey was also a religious building. One of the primary purposes of the construction of the Abbey was to promote religious practices. The Abbey had a particular room or prayers. The people who lived in the Abbey in the early Century were religious. The religious aspects of the place are evident in the various publications written by archaeologists who have done excavations of the said Abbey. Religious promoted the growth of the Abbey and the establishment of other monastic abbeys in Europe at large.
The Abbey was build using fine fabric that has survived for many years. Today, the walls of the Abbey still stand straight. Notably, the surviving fabric in the Abbey is an indication that the monastery was build using good materials. For any building to the last longer, the materials used should be durable. Unlike other abbeys, Bective Abbey was built by some of the best materials that were used in those days. The building technique was also unique. The wall served as a protective measure. Today, some of the building techniques used in the Abbey are still applied in various buildings.
Bective Abbey was located in a serene environment with a green environment. The availability of trees and the water body made the Abbey one of the cool places in the country. The serene environment attracted many people to live in the Abbey. The Bective Abbey was also fitted with fireplaces and tall elegant chimney stacks. These two elements enabled a good stay at the Abbey. Research indicates that the renovations of the building were done in the early 16th Century. At this time, the building was still occupied until the later days when it was dissolved.
According to Monastic Ireland, the Bective abbey was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Moreover, the Abbey was a daughter-church of Mellifont Abbey, Co. Louth. Having been a daughter-church, other churches have also developed the strategy of forming other subsidiaries in different parts of the country or even internationally. The notion of branches can be dated back to the early centuries. It also included watermills. Today, the site is one of the best tourist attractions in the country. Tourists from different parts of the world come to learn more about the monastery.
Discussion
The discussion part analyses the meaning of the results. Mainly, it discusses the similarities and differences between the two abbeys. The similarities and differences are based on the economy, religious practices, and layout of buildings. According to the results, some of the conditions and lifestyles in the abbeys are similar. Consequently, some methods are unique to each Abbey. Regardless of the differences, the monasteries performed a similar role.
Similarities
Based on a thorough analysis of the information on the two abbeys, both were for religious purposes. In each Abbey, there was a church where the people used to pray to God. In Tintern Abbey, the religious practices are attributed to its founder, William Marshall. On the other hand, the Bective abbey was formed on religious background.
The research revealed that the Abbey was dedicated to Blessed Virgin Mary, and it was also a daughter-church of another church. Therefore, the two monastic abbeys were formed on religious grounds. The two sites were also founded in the same Century. At the time, religious activities were the main reason for the establishment of such places. The main idea behind their establishment was to create a place where people could worship God together.
As far as economic activities are concerned, farming was the main occupation in the abbeys. According to the theoretical assumptions on the development of monastic monasteries in Ireland, arming was the primary source of food. The farming activities in Tintern abbey was meant for the provision of the food supply. Vegetables were the main crops grown in the Tintern abbey.
Based on the recent excavations, the evidence from the Bective abbey revealed that there were three economic activities done in the area. The activities included the processing of cereals, fishing at Boyne, and farming of herbs and vegetable salads. In both cases, the economic activities acted as the primary source of food. The people who lived in the two monastic abbeys considered vegetables as the primary food item. They also used herbs to cure those who were sick.
The other similarity is that the two monastic abbeys were established close to a river as well as a serene environment. The two actors promoted a good lifestyle at the two sites. Also, the buildings had some similarities, including the existence of windows and fireplaces. The similarity of some parts of the structures was attributed to the fact that the two sites were constructed in the same Century. In the 15th Century, buildings were constructed using fabrics that would survive for a long time. The material has enabled some of the walls to survive for many centuries.
Another similarity is that the two monastic abbeys are some of the main tourist attractions sites in Ireland. They attract tourists from various parts of the world. Both suites are currently ruined. The two sites are national monuments that are owned by the state. The abbeys were dissolved in the early 16th Century hence making them national monuments owned by the state.
Differences
According to the findings, the floors of the two abbeys were made of different textures. The floor of Tintern abbey was covered by a green carpet. On the other hand, the wall of Bective abbey was made of heraldic floor tiles. The difference was attributed to construction materials that were used in or the construction of the two monasteries. The two monasteries were also constructed in different locations.
As far as the rooms are concerned, the Tintern abbey was partitioned into different rooms that served various purposes. On the other hand, the other Abbey was not divided as compared to Tintern abbey. The two differences are based on construction design. Regardless of the Century in which the two abbeys were constructed, Tintern Abbey building was constructed earlier that Bective abbey. Therefore, they were built on different dates.
Conclusion
The Cistercian monastery in Ireland dates back to the early centuries during the rule of King Henry III. Monastery in Europe is attributed to the contributions of different Saints from France and Italy. The Cistercian monastery led to the establishment of many abbeys in Europe. The construction of the abbeys increased rapidly in the 15th Century. According to the findings in this thesis, the main reason or the formation of the abbeys was to encourage religious practices.
In summary, the exploration of Tintern abbey and Benctive Abbey revealed that the two sites have similarities as well as differences. One of the similarities is that the two sites embraced farming as the main economic activity. At that time, the occupants of the two monastic abbeys planted vegetables and herbs. The crops were used for various reasons, including food and medicine. Consequently, the two abbeys were designed differently. For instance, the floor of Tintern abbey was covered with a green carper, whereas that of Bective was covered with heraldic floor tiles.
Recommendations
The government should channel some funds to the maintenance of the monuments. The sites should be recognized as some of the famous historic sites in the country. The maintenance activities should be done to ensure that the information is not lost. The main reason or maintaining the sites is to promote cultural values and to remind people of the past. The sites should be kept in good condition for future generations. Archaeologists can use the sites as a study ground. In the long run, the site will generate good income for the country through tourism. Therefore, the tourism sector will boost the country’s gross domestic product.
The archaeologists should do a thorough excavation of the sites to identify more information that has not been exploited. Some of the information regarding the lifestyle of the people who lived in the sites has not been identified by archaeologists.
Additional research should be done to bring forward all relevant information about the sites. The analysis should be carried out by institutions of higher learning. The results of the findings should be published in the country’s archives and other online platforms for easy references. The main aim of the excavation and research is to provide adequate information to the stakeholders.
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