11th July 2012, 11:34 PM
Those two passages I have posted come from Diarmuid O Drisceoil's marvellous entry in 'Burnt Offerings: International Contributions to Burnt Mound Archaeology' Compiled by Victor Buckley. 1990. Wordwell Publications. Well worth a look - somewhat outdated now due to the sheer volume of sites excavated since that time but still of value).
The Dubh Ruis story makes clear links with cooking and washing in these pits but also sexual and curative qualities hinted at, there's also that business of cleaning the wilderness out of the woman (passing between worlds?)
Many Irish examples are timber lined incidentally.
I can see you're not warming to this idea Dino, and when you explain your pits they don't sound like a match for fulacht fiadh. At absolute best a very distant cousin.
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that slab of info in. I'll say no more on the subject, take it or leave it.
I never did find out if Mis and Dubh Ruis lived happily ever after . . .
The Dubh Ruis story makes clear links with cooking and washing in these pits but also sexual and curative qualities hinted at, there's also that business of cleaning the wilderness out of the woman (passing between worlds?)
Quote:They come with a trough round here rather than pits'He made a pit, square all round in the ground, and he filled it with water.'
Many Irish examples are timber lined incidentally.
I can see you're not warming to this idea Dino, and when you explain your pits they don't sound like a match for fulacht fiadh. At absolute best a very distant cousin.
Anyway, just thought I'd throw that slab of info in. I'll say no more on the subject, take it or leave it.
I never did find out if Mis and Dubh Ruis lived happily ever after . . .