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Thanks for that- yes, that's the book which is central-I need though to make it more 'academic' and put it it context with any historical and archaeological material- ask more questions and develop their ideas. Thanks again. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: Mary LaBarge To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2005 1:32 AM Subject: Re: Dissertation Dear Paul: An interesting book you may want to take a look at is the following: Brenneman, Walter and Mary Brenneman. Crossing the Circle at the Holy Wells of Ireland. Charlottesville, Virginia: University Press of Virginia, 1995. These folks look at the wells from a sort of folkloric perspective. Although their book is a bit academic, I enjoy rereading it now and then. They try to analyze individual wells along the lines of broad patterns of "Cosmic Symbolism" - I won't define that, but leave it to you. For example they look at fertility symbols, the goddess figure, the tree motif, etc. Hope this helps a tiny bit. Mary LaBarge >From: Paul Burkitt <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: WATER TALK - the email discussion list for springs and spas enthusiasts <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Dissertation >Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2005 10:54:36 -0000 > >Gill, >Many thanks for that- it's a broad area, and I may well have to focus- I've some archeology- but also Jungian psychology-so the whole area of archetypal landscapes fascinates as well- the shrine to monument process and how the shrine is somehow depotentiated when 'converted'. Also the transition of goddesses into saints-relates to the sagas. I just have a vision of the hero saint singing his/her litany whilst circling the well! >Thanks again- I could try Bangor. No doubt there are other aspects we can share-my time is very limited though with all this as I work as Parish Priest at the centre of Hull and part-time as a staff nurse on the Acute Assessment Unit! Sorry to hear of your husband. Paul > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Gill Rice > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 12:03 PM > Subject: Re: Dissertation > > > Hello Paul > > A difficult subject. Do you have a background in archaeology? > > I was looking at the role of water in prehistory ie Neolithic/Bronze Age in ' so called Celtic areas' as a part of my PhD on Neolithic/Bronze Ages of North Wales/ Ireland. I had to suspend study as my husband died recently > > Alot of things that are written have no backup through archaelogy and are pure speculation > Scandinavian mythology and lore has lots of useful parallels. I have a book which might help but would have to find it and get back to you > > It's a definition as to what constitutes a well rather than watery place in the early period as wells as such tend to be later > For example there are so called 'ritual lakes' near Newgrange in Co Meath which were places for deposit of 'ritual' ojects in the Irish Neolithic > It's such a big subject and well (scuse the pun) worth looking at early lore and epic tales which may have pre- Christian roots. > > I do know that an undergraduate at Bangor University was doing similar for her dissertation - she will have finished now > > You could contact the Dept of History/Archaeology to find out if she completed the work > > If you send a bit more on your subject I might be able to help > > Regards Gill Smith N Wales > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Paul Burkitt > To: [log in to unmask] > Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 9:24 AM > Subject: Dissertation > > > Just to say I'm new to the list- I'm just beginning the dissertation phase of an MA in 'Celtic Christianity' (Lampeter). I hope to explore how the holy wells, along with the early litanies of Ireland, were 'tools' in the transfer of faith. It's about the subtle move from the loric to the universal- the process of assimilation and maybe how the 'good pagan' was redeemable! > Is there anyone who knows anything about this process or knows of a longtitudinal study of a well/s than span the pagan/christian liminal period? > Thanks.