The earliest evidence for agriculture in Ireland has been dated to the Early Neolithic period, beginning around 4000 BC. From the outset of the Neolithic, previous food procurement strategies—including hunting, fishing and gathering—began to be replaced by plant and animal hu
archaeology | methodology | archaeobotany
During archaeological testing in advance of the N6 Ballinasloe–Athlone road scheme in April 2007, structural timbers were revealed in a wetland area at the base of a hill in Kilbegly townland, Co. Roscommon, approximately 4 km east of Ballinasloe, Co. Galway (Illus. 1). These tim
archaeology | excavation (sites) | watermill
Until recently the number of cereal-drying kilns known in Munster and Leinster was relatively low compared to the numbers known in northern Connacht and western Ulster (e.g. Johnston 2003; Monk & Kelleher 2005), but recent discoveries in advance of large infrastructural projec
archaeology | excavation (sites) | kiln
Intuition, experience and observation are among the ingredients in a successful field investigation. At the outset of a big development project, the field archaeologist uses all three in trying to predict what might be found on the development site. The sources of evidence in
archaeology | site surveys | geophysics
Fulachta fiadh, or burnt mounds, generally date from the Bronze Age and are one of the most widespread of Irish field monuments, perhaps numbering up to 5,000. Of the 500 or so sites currently entered in the NRA Archaeological Database (www.n
archaeology | analysis and testing techniques | fulacht fia
This paper provides a preliminary glimpse of a vibrant community who lived and worked in a ringfort in the townland of Ballyvass, Co. Kildare, during the early medieval period. The site at Ballyvass, 2 km north-west of Castledermot, was on a gravel ridge with a southern aspe
archaeology | excavation (sites) | kiln
Wild animals, birds and fish have been exploited by humans from the time they first settled on this island up to the present day.While animal bone analysis can determine what species were being used, it tells us little about how these animals were actually procured. Early mediev
archaeology | excavation (sites) | hunting
The early medieval period is one for which we have an abundance of archaeological and historical evidence, which has increased in recent years as a result of the national roads- building programme. This has led to a wealth of information that benefits research in all sectors of
archaeology | analysis and testing techniques | archaeobotany
The type of evidence that archaeologists uncover for Neolithic settlement in Ireland can come in a variety of forms, ranging from small-scale temporary sites to larger, more permanent enclosed landscapes such as the Céide fields in County Mayo. Neolithic buildings form
archaeology | excavation (sites) | dwelling
During excavation, interpretative theories abound among members of the excavation team on the site.These are reviewed and tested in the post-excavation phase and reviewed again as more excavations take place and new evidence comes to light. In recent years, Eachtra Archaeologi
archaeology | excavation (sites) | geographic information systems