Water-Power as a Factor of Industrial Location in Early Medieval Ireland: The Environment of the Early Irish Water Mill
Colin Rynne
It has long been known that certain water-powered mill sites, owing to the suitability of their water supply, have continued in use since later medieval period. But when, exactly, did millwrights begin make empirical observations on efficacy a particular source hydro-power and, indeed, very site itself? In present paper, important new archaeological evidence from early Ireland (c. AD 600–1100), is used demonstrate conscious decisions location mills employing various types freshwater and estuarine supplies were already being made by decades 7th century AD. Furthermore, not only increasingly more challenging locations adapted for Irish millwrights, but availability water-power had become an factor choice larger monasteries.
Industrial Archaeology Review