PROCESSION AND SYMBOLISM AT TARA: ANALYSIS OF TECH MIDCHÚARTA (THE `BANQUETING HALL') IN
THE CONTEXT OF THE SACRAL CAMPUS

Author: NEWMAN, CONOR

Source: Oxford Journal of Archaeology, Volume 26, Number 4, November 2007 , pp. 415-438(24)

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Abstract:

Summary.

New analysis explores Tech Midchúarta (the `Banqueting Hall') from the point of view of a sacral, processional approach to the summit of the Hill of Tara, the pre-eminent cult and inauguration site of prehistoric and early medieval Ireland. It is suggested that aspects of its architectural form symbolize the liminal boundary between the human world and the Otherworld of Tara, and that in so far as Tech Midchúarta is also designed to control and manipulate how the ceremonial complex is disclosed to the observer, it assembles the existing monuments into one, integrated ceremonial campus. It is argued that Tech Midchúarta is one of the later monuments on the Hill of Tara and that it may date from the early medieval period. Using the evidence of documentary sources and extant monuments, a possible processional route from Tech Midchúarta to Ráith na Ríg is described.

Immráidem fós Long na Láech

frisanabar Barc Ban mbáeth.

Tech na Fían, nirbo long lec,

co cethri doirsib deac.

Let us consider too the Hall of the Heroes

which is called the Palace of Vain Women;

the House of Warriors, it was no mean hall,

with fourteen doors.

( Gwynn 1903-35, Metrical Dindshenchas III, 18)

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0092.2007.00291.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of ArchaeologyNational University of IrelandGalwayIRELAND