Death in Irish prehistory awarded European Association of Archaeologists Book Prize 2024
Prize awarded to Gabriel Cooney MRIA at the 30th EAA Annual Conference in Rome on 28 August
The annual conference of the European Association of Archaeologists is taking place in Rome this year. At the opening ceremony this afternoon, 28 August, Death in Irish prehistory by Gabriel Cooney, Emeritus Professor of Celtic Archaeology, UCD School of Archaeology, was awarded the EAA Book Prize 2024.
The annual award honours recent publications by EAA members, and from a total of 25 nominations received, 6 books were shortlisted for this year’s prize.
Death in Irish prehistory explores the richness of the mortuary record that we have for Irish prehistory (8000 BC to AD 500) as a highlight of the archaeological record for that long period of time.
The EAA remarked that the book ‘is written in an engaging manner, with sensitive reflections on how the living deal with death today as well as in the past.’
On receiving the prize, Professor Cooney commented
“It is a pleasure to acknowledge the dedication, work and publications of many colleagues in archaeology, osteo-archaeology and related disciplines working in and on Ireland whose scholarship enabled and underpins the people-based approach taken in Death in Irish prehistory.”
For the second year running, two prizes were awarded by the EAA selection committee. The other winner this year is Graeme Warren, for his book Hunter-Gatherer Ireland. Professor Warren (pictured below with Gabriel Cooney), also of UCD School of Archaeology, was elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy in May this year.
Death in Irish prehistory, written by Gabriel Cooney and illustrated by Conor McHale, is available from book shops nationwide or can be ordered online.
