Early History

Resources

One of the highlights of the collection from the Early Medieval or Early Christian period is a cross-slab with an Irish inscription from a monastic site at Kilcoo. The inscription reads ‘Or du Mael Cluchi’ (A prayer from Maelcluchi). Another artefact from the same period is part of a High Cross from Killesher, an early monastery founded by the female saint Lasair.

Two carvings of a bishop and a male exhibitionist are from a former 12th century church at Aghalurcher, near Lisnaskea.

Examples of carved heads from Medieval churches include two which probably came from the old graveyard on Cleenish Island and one from Tievealough Church near Belleek, now on display in Belleek at ExplorErne.

On loan from the Ulster Museum is a rare example of a wooden musical horn found in the River Erne at Coolnashanton, south of Enniskillen and made between the 8th and 10th century AD.

From the same period is a bronze hand bell of a type used in Early Christian monasteries to call the congregation to prayer.

The earliest Stone Age items in the collection are flint implements from the Mesolithic Period, found on the shores of Cushrush Island in Lower Lough Macnean. Many of the later archaeological artefacts on display are on loan from the Ulster Museum, for example Neolithic pottery from a Court Tomb at Aghanaglack, a gold fastener from Tattykeel Lower, near Kesh, and a gold bracelet from Cleenaghan, near Ballinamallard. On loan from Armagh County Museum are amber beads, a bronze knife and a bronze chisel from Killycreen West, near Belcoo.
		^{Amberbeads,bronze knife and chisel.} ^{©Armagh County Museum,} ^{National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland.}