Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

important during the Middle Bronze Age than the preceding period. Willow increases
importance during the Middle Bronze Age.
Samples 19, 22, 27, 35 and 40 from cutting A1 are not directly dated to the Early Bronze Age,
rather they are dated by association. These were included in the overall counts for Figure 14.
When these samples are removed from the Early Bronze Age counts and compared with the
directly Early Bronze Age charcoal samples, some differences are evident. This is mainly
demonstrated by the higher levels of oak and lower birch counts in the associated contexts
(Figure 15).
fragment count
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
EBA dated through association
EBA directly dated
Salix
Quercus
Pinus
Maloideae
Ilex
Hedera
Fraxinus
Corylus
Betula
Alnus
Figure 15 Charcoal from Early Bronze Age contexts only
Rathlackan E580 Early/Middle Neolithic to Early Bronze Age.
Charcoal was identified from twenty four samples from Rathlackan (Table 8). A further
eleven samples were assessed and not selected for analysis (Table 9). Overall the level of
charcoal is low. Nine wood taxa were identified, including hazel, holly, pomaceous
fruitwood, pine, oak, willow, elm, alder and birch. The results are dominated by hazel, oak
and willow (Figure 16).
36