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European Archaeology Days 2024
In collaboration with the Heritage Council, Craftsman Mark Griffiths and the IPeAAT team engaged over 400 school children artistically with peatland archaeology for European Archaeology Days 2024.
The Heritage Council commissioned craftsman Mark Griffiths to carve a replica of the Ballykean bog figure for this year's European Archaeology days celebration at the Heritage Council offices in Kilkenny. The figure, also known as 'the Red Man of Kilbeg', is a Bronze Age alderwood figure dating to c. 1740–1531 BC, that was unearthed in Kilbeg townland, Ballykean Bog, Co. Offaly in 2003. As the meaning and purpose of the figure still remains unknown, the IPeAAT team asked the school children what they thought. The children represented the figure artistically, offering insightful interpretations of its meaning, some of which you can see below.
You can find further information on the Ballykean figure here and read about Mark's reflections on the event here.
