Focuses on the Later Mesolithic, the development of tools like Bann Flakes and Moynagh Points, settlement patterns including “persistent places,” diet, organic finds, and key sites such as Lough Boora, Mount Sandel, and Ferriter’s Cove.
Details the arrival of Ireland’s first continuous settlers by sea, their adaptation to the post-glacial environment, and the characteristics of the Earlier Mesolithic hunter-gatherer-fisher lifestyle and microlithic tool technology.
Explores the earliest sporadic human presence in Ireland during the Old Stone Age, evidence from sites like Castlepook Cave and Alice & Gwendoline Cave, set against a backdrop of dramatic Ice Age climatic shifts.
I. Introduction to the Irish Neolithic The Neolithic period, or New Stone Age, in Ireland represents a pivotal chapter in the island’s human history, a time of profound social, economic, and technological transformation that laid the groundwork for subsequent cultural developments. Spanning roughly from c. 4000 BC to c. 2500 BC 1, this era witnessed …
Ireland possesses a uniquely rich and remarkably well-preserved archaeological record, a testament to millennia of human endeavour, adaptation, and cultural evolution. Situated on the western fringe of Europe, its story is one of both distinct island development and periodic, transformative connections with the broader continent. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive journey through the …
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The Mesolithic period, or Middle Stone Age, represents a pivotal stage in human history, serving as a bridge between the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods. In Ireland, this era is generally recognised as spanning from approximately 10,000 to 6,000 years ago, with the earliest substantial evidence of settlement appearing around 8000 BC (Heritage Council of Ireland, …
Read more “Mesolithic Archaeology of Ireland: The First Hunter-Gatherer Settlements”
This article delves into the rich archaeological heritage of Brú na Bóinne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ireland. Famed for its Neolithic passage tombs, including Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth, Brú na Bóinne offers a unique glimpse into ancient Ireland’s social, cultural, and astronomical understanding. The article explores the site’s architectural marvels, astronomical alignments, symbolic …
The mythology of ancient Ireland is rich and varied, with a host of deities and legends that have been passed down through the centuries. One of the most important sites in Irish mythology is the Hill of Tara, located in County Meath, which served as the ceremonial and burial site of ancient Irish kings. In …