#  Revisiting Ireland’s Past: Andrew Bair Explores the “Invisible People” of the Middle Ages 

 





May 05, 2026

 

 

The Department of Anthropology is pleased to share a recent feature from *Harvard Griffin GSAS News*, “Looking for Ireland’s ‘Invisible People,’” highlighting the work of Anthropology PhD candidate Andrew Bair (expected May 2026).

Bair’s dissertation research challenges long-standing assumptions about the chronology of Irish ring forts—one of the most common archaeological site types in Ireland. Traditionally dated to a narrow window between AD 600 and 1000, these sites have been widely understood as emblematic of early medieval agrarian life. Through an innovative methodological approach he terms “para-excavation,” Bair combines geophysical survey techniques with high-precision radiocarbon dating to investigate these sites without extensive excavation.

His findings suggest a more complex and extended timeline of occupation. In addition to confirming activity within the conventional period, Bair identifies evidence of earlier Iron Age use as well as continued occupation into the 11th, 12th, and even 17th centuries. This work contributes to a growing body of scholarship that reconsiders how archaeologists define and interpret temporal boundaries in the past.

Bair’s interdisciplinary path—from studying archaeology and computer science as an undergraduate at Columbia University to specializing in geophysical archaeology—has shaped his approach to research. His work underscores the value of integrating emerging technologies with traditional archaeological inquiry.

As he prepares to defend his dissertation and graduate this May, Bair reflects on the broader implications of his findings: that the past is often more complex than the categories used to describe it. His research invites us to reconsider familiar narratives and to embrace a more nuanced understanding of historical landscapes. He plans to publish his findings this fall and eventually develop this research into a book.

[**Learn More.**](https://gsas.harvard.edu/news/looking-irelands-invisible-people)



 

 

 



 

 

 Share on:- [     Facebook ](#)
- [     Twitter ](#)
- [     Linkedin ](#)