Turves from Horses Hooves, and Flakes of Foam from the Bridle-Bits

Abstract

The chariot or carpat in Old Irish Literature poses an interesting problem, since the chariots are described in the literature but are poorly represented in other sources. There is no direct archaeological evidence for military use of the chariot in Early Ireland , nor are there concrete references in the Law Texts or in any other art except for the literature. Several theories exist on the origin of the chariot as a motif in Early Irish myth. Some claim that the chariot from the Táin Bó Cúailnge is a representation of a chariot in existence in Iron Age Ireland . The Iron Age chariot would have been a remnant from the La Tène period, where princes on the mainland were buried with chariots and must have travelled with the tribes north-westwards to eventually end up in Ireland . Others believe the chariot to be a purely literary motif . Besides the many theories the question remains: did carpat ever exist in Early Irish society? And if yes, when did it exist? Archaeology has no answers, neither have the Laws. The only real evidence of carpat remains hidden in the Old Irish tales.