Of hearth and home: the material biography of an Irish cabin

Abstract

SUMMARY The authors blend archaeological data with ethnographic, archival, and historical accounts to tell the story of a post-Famine stone cabin in County Cork, Ireland that was inhabited between 1860 and 1915. Research reveals the stories of the two families that once lived in the cabin and connects them to broader issues of land ownership, politics, and social dynamics. These issues came to a head in 1915, when one family was evicted from the property and the cabin was set ablaze. Artefacts found in situ speak to the complexities of everyday life and reveal localized expressions of identity and belonging.