Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

Céide Visitor Centre (E494) Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age
Charcoal was examined from nine contexts from this site (Table 4). Seven wood taxa in total
were identified including oak, birch, hazel/alder, pomaceous fruitwood, willow, hazel and
holly. The main tree present is birch (Figure 5).
3%
3%
9%
2%
0%
16%
67%
Betula
Corylus
Corylus/Alnus
Ilex
Maloideae
Quercus
Salix
Figure 5 Total charcoal identifications from E494 : N=462 fragments
Birch, hazel and willow were recorded from Cutting C F3 (S003). In comparison, mainly birch
with holly, pomaceous fruitwood, oak and willow were identified from Cutting H, F9 (S016) a
comparable charcoal layer.
From Cutting 10B (S035), a hearth, mainly hazel along with willow and oak were identified.
Previous work by Donal Synott of the Botanical Gardens in Glasnevin has also identified
these taxa, along with holly and alder.
Primarily birch, hazel and holly were recorded from Cutting H ‘Trench’ F13 (S013), while
birch, pomaceous fruitwood and willow were noted from Cutting H ‘Trench’ F14 (S022).
Two fills were examined from Cutting H, F19, an ash pit. F15 (S019) is the upper fill and it
contains birch, hazel, pomaceous fruitwood, hazel/alder, oak and willow. Below this, F16
(S029) an ashy layer was excavated, no charcoal was recorded in this sample. Birch, holly,
pomaceous fruitwood, oak and willow were identified from Cutting H ‘Trench’ F20 (S026).
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