There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but thePrehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones. Clare is one of the richest places for these tombs in Ireland, the most noted is in The Burren area, it is known as Poulnabrone dolmen which translates as the hole of sorrows. The remains of the people inside the tomb have been excavated and dated to 3800 BC.
Within his map Ptolemy names the Gaelic tribes inhabiting it and the areas in which they resided; in the area of Clare he identified a tribe known as the Gangani. Historians have found the tribes on the west of Ireland hardest to identify with known peoples, however Camden and O'Conor speculated a possible connection between the Gangani and the Concani, one of the eleven tribes in the confederacy of the Cantabri in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Sample :
Brief anthropological analysis :
- Type 1 : Light complexion (pinky undertones, light blue eyes, blonde hair, ...), leptomorphic, long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, high cheekbones, close-set eyes, rather angular and pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlantid aka "Keltic Nordic"
This type constitutes a basic "Celtic" insular phenotype : it is not as prevailing as in other Irish counties. Let's add that people belonging to that type are somehow darker on average as well. People from County Clare rather belong to a less leptoprosopic variant (read : larger-faced).
Eventually, some "Atlantid" individuals do show some strong Irish features that are also common on people belonging to Type 2 : defined lines around the oral cavity, a large nose, a deep and clefted lower jaw.
- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (light skin, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic (yet probably mesocephalic), chubby features, rather low-rooted and little broad nose that can get convex, wide forehead, large and strong jaws, prominent chin, wide-set eyes
~ Brünn
Many individuals do exhibit a typical Irish flavour as well : defined lines around the oral cavity, a large nose, a deep lower jaw, a high forehead, that could be found on individuals belonging to Type 1 which really makes me wonder whether or not classification is that interesting as ethnic traits can be found on all types of individuals.
Within his map Ptolemy names the Gaelic tribes inhabiting it and the areas in which they resided; in the area of Clare he identified a tribe known as the Gangani. Historians have found the tribes on the west of Ireland hardest to identify with known peoples, however Camden and O'Conor speculated a possible connection between the Gangani and the Concani, one of the eleven tribes in the confederacy of the Cantabri in the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Brief anthropological analysis :
- Type 1 : Light complexion (pinky undertones, light blue eyes, blonde hair, ...), leptomorphic, long and convex nose rather parallel to the face, high cheekbones, close-set eyes, rather angular and pointy chin, large jaw
~ Dinaricized Atlantid aka "Keltic Nordic"
This type constitutes a basic "Celtic" insular phenotype : it is not as prevailing as in other Irish counties. Let's add that people belonging to that type are somehow darker on average as well. People from County Clare rather belong to a less leptoprosopic variant (read : larger-faced).
Eventually, some "Atlantid" individuals do show some strong Irish features that are also common on people belonging to Type 2 : defined lines around the oral cavity, a large nose, a deep and clefted lower jaw.
- Type 2 : Intermediate complexion (light skin, light eyes, ...), brachymorphic (yet probably mesocephalic), chubby features, rather low-rooted and little broad nose that can get convex, wide forehead, large and strong jaws, prominent chin, wide-set eyes~ Brünn
Many individuals do exhibit a typical Irish flavour as well : defined lines around the oral cavity, a large nose, a deep lower jaw, a high forehead, that could be found on individuals belonging to Type 1 which really makes me wonder whether or not classification is that interesting as ethnic traits can be found on all types of individuals.- Final morphotypes :
