The purpose of this paper is not to describe in detail the various early medieval archaeological sites discovered in advance of construction of the M3 motorway but to explore the research opportunities provided by the recent findings from the scheme as a whole. This wil
archaeology | methodology | burials
Almost 6,000 years ago a narrow trackway of branches and twigs was laid down on the wet surface of a County Longford bog, signalling the start of a practice that would continue for the following four millennia and would create one of the most remarkable archaeological complexes e
archaeology | excavation (sites) | bog
The excavation of a ‘lost’ medieval cemetery on the route of the N15 Bundoran–Ballyshannon Bypass has created the opportunity for an innovative research project based at the Institute of Technology, Sligo.The aim of this research study is to extract and amp
archaeology | analysis and testing techniques | DNA
In August 2005 an excavation was undertaken by Graham Hull, TVAS (Ireland) Ltd, at Clare Abbey on behalf of Clare County Council and the National Roads Authority as part of works associated with the N18 Ennis Bypass and the N85 Western Relief Road.1 Clare County Council requested
archaeology | excavation (sites) | monastery
This paper provides a brief introduction to the contribution that historical research can make to the understanding and interpretation of archaeological sites.The examples used are drawn from the writer’s ongoing research for archaeologists working on sites recently excavated
archaeology | methodology | site interpretation
Rahally townland lies immediately south of a byroad near the village of New Inn (An Cnoc Breac) in east County Galway, in the civil parish of Grange and the barony of Kilconnell. The site at Rahally was on a hillside with a northern aspect, in pastureland c. 1.75 km south-east o
archaeology | excavation (sites) | hillfort
The current road scheme developments throughout Ireland are unveiling new and exciting sites, which are providing fresh opportunities for archaeological study that is adding to our understanding of past societies. It is not just traditional excavations that are now taking place,
archaeology | site surveys | wetland
Human palaeopathology has been defined as the scientific study of disease processes in past populations through the examination of human remains (Aufderheide & Rodríguez- Martin 1998, 1). It examines how diseases have evolved and changed over periods of time and how humans
archaeology | analysis and testing techniques | paleopathology
In the recent past it has often been reported that animal bones are not found in the excavation of burnt mounds/fulachta fiadh. Explanations for this lack of faunal remains have ranged from acid soil (Hedges 1974–5, 42) to scavenging animals (O’Kelly 1954, 141) or to specific f
archaeology | analysis and testing techniques | fulacht fiadh
Concentrations of major, minor and trace elements within archaeological bone reflect elemental concentrations in diet and subsistence patterns of the sampled population. Through the determination of a variety of elements (substances, such as iron, that cannot be resolved by
archaeology | analysis and testing techniques | chemical analysis