Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

A possible midden (B2P) contained a small quantity of hazelnut shell fragments (S.901 and
S.902). Cereal remains, consisting of grains of Hordeum vulgare L. (barley), were found
beneath entrance flagging at the house (S.247), while achenes of Persicaria spp.
(knotweeds) were recorded in the area around the sill stone at the house (S.205). Species of
the knotweeds genus can grow in a variety of environments, including cultivated fields and
on disturbed ground around settlements.
S. 205 247 901 902
Botanical name Plant part Common name
CORYLACEAE
Corylus avellana L. Nutshell fragment Hazelnut 1 1
POLYGONACEAE
Persicaria spp. Achene Knotweeds 2
GRAMINEAE
Hordeum vulgare L. Grain Barley 2
Hordeum vulgare L. Grain fragment Barley 1
Gramineae Grain Indeterminate grass 1
Table 6: Plant macro-remains recorded at Belderg Beg
Four samples from excavations at Belderg Beg were previously examined by Mick Monk,
revealing evidence for c. 100 fragments of hazelnut shell (M. Monk, pers. comm. 2010).
Further hazelnut remains were also present in a number of B2T and B2P ‘midden’ deposits
that were not examined as part of this study.
Discussion
Overview
Deposits from four sites – Rathlackan court tomb, Glenulra scatter, Céide Fields visitor
centre and Belderg Beg house and field system – were examined for their archaeobotanical
content. Non-wood plant macro-remains were recorded only at the Rathlackan court tomb
and the Belderg Beg settlement. Remains at Rathlackan consisted of wild plants, some of
which may have been collected, while both wild and cultivated plants were represented at
Belderg Beg.
89