Religion, Memory and Materiality: Exploring the Origins and Legacies of Sectarianism in the North of Ireland

Summary

The early seventeenth-century Plantation of Ulster, in which the English Crown sought to plant loyal British colonists in the north of Ireland, is commonly understood as overtly religious in intent and action, and is viewed as the foundation for today’s dichotomous divide between Protestant and Catholic communities in Northern Ireland. However, archaeological and documentary evidence complicates this straightforward narrative by demonstrating considerable cultural exchange and the emergence of hybrid practices—suggesting that during the Plantation period itself, religion may have been far less influential than economic and political pragmatism. By the end of the seventeenth century, however, religion took on a more prominent political and cultural role, overtly materialised in objects, settlement patterns, and landscapes. The nature and timing for this transition is examined through archaeological case studies and the broader European context, and considered in light of contemporary historical memories regarding Plantation and the origins of sectarianism in Ireland.   

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018   •
• Religious Communities, Religious Landscapes

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 219