Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

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Acknowledgments This report is the product of many years of work, from many different people, far too numerous to name here. The projects summarised by the NBNM project here, over the years, have received funding from many different sources – indeed, the projects summarised offer in many senses a history of Irish archaeology and the availability of funding, from emergency labour schemes through to varied research grants. Where specific funding has been provided for particular projects these are discussed in text. The contribution of volunteer labour, especially that of students, to the success of the projects over the long term should also be noted. The Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo project has been supported by INSTAR and INSTAR2 in 2009-2011, following a pilot in 2008 supported by the Heritage Council’s unpublished excavations scheme. We are extremely grateful for this support, without which it would not have been possible to develop the project and to be as close to final publication of this material as we now are. v
Introduction This report reviews the work carried out as part of the Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo (NBNM) project in 2011. The NBNM project will bring to final publication critically important aspects of the Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeology of North County Mayo, specifically Caulfield’s survey and excavation in Belderrig; survey/excavation by varied parties at ‘Céide Fields’; Byrne’s survey and excavation at Rathlackan and Dunne’s survey work in Pollatomas. The buried landscapes of the Céide Fields are iconic for Irish archaeology, of international significance and were included on the Irish tentative list of World Heritage Sites. According to this designation the Céide Fields and associated landscapes have ‘outstanding universal value’: “The significance of the Céide Fields lies in the fact that along with their associated megalithic monuments and dwelling structures they provide a unique farmed landscape from Neolithic times. Not only are they "an outstanding example" but they are the outstanding example of human settlement, land‐use and interaction with environment in Neolithic times. The first adoption of farming occurred at different times throughout the world. Nowhere else is there such extensive physical remains of a Neolithic farmed landscape surviving from this significant period in prehistory.” (http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5524/: original emphasis) The current project extends the success of the Céide Fields work in outreach and attempts to remedy the lack of full academic publication of this material, which is recognized as of international significance. Our initial proposed model for the project has been a three year project resulting in: - an academic monograph detailing the results of survey, excavation and further specialist work carried out in the region - a book targeted at the general public outlining the nature, significance and future of these archaeological landscapes Two phases of work with INSTAR funding have been completed to date following a preliminary phase in 2008, supported by the Heritage Council’s unpublished excavations grant; in 2009 registers for artefacts and samples and stratigraphic reports were generated. In 2010 specialist analyses of artefacts and assessments of environmental data were undertaken, along with some illustration of artefacts and C14 dating. Digitising of extant plans was undertaken and a robust spatial framework provided for same. In 2011 we made a minor modification to our proposed timeline, recognising the considerable complexity of some of the sites. We proposed to complete substantial components of the final volume, including full reports on the excavations at and near the main part of the Céide Fields complex – the area immediately surrounding the Céide Fields Visitor Centre (‘Céide Hil). In 2012 we will complete the reports for Belderg Beg and Rathlackan and finalise synthesis and interpretation. We are providing two reports for INSTAR. This document collates all draft texts and reports produced this year – it is not intended for public consumption. It is accompanied by a substantial report on the excavations at Céide Hill which can be published on line. 1
Page 1 and 2: Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes
Page 3 and 4: Table of Contents Introduction ....
Page 5: Scientific Research associated with
Page 9 and 10: - A summary of the radiocarbon dati
Page 11 and 12: Creating Digital Archaeological Lan
Page 13 and 14: Figure 2: Data Model for NBNM GIS R
Page 15 and 16: Figure 4: example of outputs at Cé
Page 17 and 18: Rathlackan As a result of a lack of
Page 19 and 20: Radiocarbon Dating A further tranch
Page 21 and 22: RATHLACKAN Lab Number F no S. No Co
Page 23 and 24: GLENULRA ENCLOSURE Notes Cal BC (95
Page 25 and 26: Lab Code Cutting Sample Material AR
Page 27 and 28: Charcoal analysis from Neolithic an
Page 29 and 30: Results Overall charcoal 83 samples
Page 31 and 32: Glenulra Scatter 92E140 Middle Neol
Page 33 and 34: Oak and birch were recorded from Cu
Page 35 and 36: 35 30 no of samples 25 20 15 10 5 0
Page 37 and 38: Area A A long length of Neolithic f
Page 39 and 40: piece was 17 years old when cut, ba
Page 41 and 42: elating to midden B2P and from five
Page 43 and 44: 1% 6% Corylus 1% 14% 25% 0% 2% 4% 4
Page 45 and 46: posts burnt in situ. Rather the pos
Page 47 and 48: When the charcoal is examined throu
Page 49 and 50: at Glenulra scatter. Alder was iden
Page 51 and 52: een freely available in the area. T
Page 53 and 54: References Byrne, G., Warren, G., W
Page 55 and 56: Verrill, L. and Tipping, R. 2010. U
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Table 3 Charcoal identifications fr
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Sample Date Ctg Context Description
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Sample Date Ctg Context Description
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Sample Trench Time period Descripti
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Table 7 Wood identification details
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Table 8 Charcoal identifications fr
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Cutting Sample Date Feature Descrip
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Table 8 Sample assessment Rathlacka
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Phase F. S. Trench Deposit type Loc
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Behy-Glenulra: Céide Fields visito
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A possible midden (B2P) contained a
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Wild remains Hazelnut shell fragmen
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References Beijerinck, W. 1947. Zad
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Verrill, L. and Tipping, R. 2010. A
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Soils and Geology Graeme Warren Thi
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Figure 3: overview of geological fe
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distinctive deposits and landscape
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Figure 4: major landuse categories.
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References ?? Soil Map of West Mayo
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The first scientific paper on late
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Also in the summer of 1963, fifty k
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the earth for the bank coming from
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dates from the macrofossil remains
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New Research and Researchers Over t
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Probed Surveys: Erris, Céide Field
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Iron probes of varying lengths had
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Céide hill twenty five years earli
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Survey on the Glenamoy - Bartnatra
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Bungurra River drains the Knocknalo
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The elevation of the tombs, all sit
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In 1936, 2 sub-rectangular cists, C
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Dooncarton Southwest slope 3.15 km
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The cross-section area occupied by
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No upper boundary was located on Kn
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The third house site, H3, on Gortme
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The 2 court tombs, Ma38 and Ma23, l
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This void is substantiated by exami
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Survey from Ballinglen to Rathfran
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Lissadrone basin. The peat cover is
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Two similar large round cairns are
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Wall Gaps Because of concealment an
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supported by an orthostat visible u
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and with different building techniq
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Survey Illustrations: Figure 1: Ove
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Figure 4: Seefin walls with associa
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Figure 7: Walls from the study area
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Figure 8: Cabintown Site A. 161
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Figure 11: Rathlackan sites H12 Fig
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Figure 15: Creevagh H5, Figure 16:
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Figure 19: Carrowkibbock Upper H20.
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Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

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