Neolithic and Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: Report 2011

The presence of common sorrel and docks seeds in deposits at Rathlackan, and knotweeds
seeds at Belderg Beg may represent plants that were growing locally. Common sorrel may
have been gathered for consumption, as it provides leaves and flowering heads that can be
eaten as leafy greens (Mears and Hillman 2007, 261). The knotweeds seeds at Belderg Beg
may similarly represent locally growing weeds, or plants that were growing alongside the
cereals and inadvertently harvested,
Recommendation for retention/deaccessioning
It is recommended that the charred plant macro-remains from this site should be retained for
any future analyses that may be carried out. Future investigations may utilise new scientific
analyses of previously excavated material, including further radiocarbon dating. A recent
development in archaeological science is the ability to carry out 14 C AMS dating on single
plant components (e.g. a seed or nutshell fragment). The remains of annual plants – such as
hazelnut shell and cereal grains – are ideal material for radiocarbon dating, as they are more
likely to produce narrow date-ranges when compared with longer-lived species (e.g. wood
charcoal).
Another recent development in archaeological science is the exploration of palaeo-diets and
agricultural reconstruction through the analysis of crop stable isotope ratios. The practice of
manuring (use of animal dung as fertiliser to enhance crop yields) causes substantial
enrichment of crop 15N ratios, which can be detected through the scientific analysis of
charred cereal grains (Bogaard et al. 2007). Stable isotope analysis of the cereal grains at
Belderg Beg could therefore provide new insights into agricultural practices in Bronze Age
Ireland.
This material requires relatively little storage space. Charred remains are stable and do not
usually require additional conservation when stored in an appropriate manner (e.g. in welllabelled
hard-cased vials).
Conclusions
Analysis of archaeobotanical remains from four sites – Rathlackan court tomb, Behy-
Glenulra (Céide Fields) visitor centre, Glenulra scatter, and Belderg Beg roundhouse and
field system – produced evidence for a small quantity of cultivated and wild remains.
Archaeobotanical material was absent from the examined samples at Glenulra scatter and
the Céide Fields visitor centre. Deposits at Rathlackan provided evidence for a range of
plants that may have been gathered as foodstuffs, including hazelnut, crab-apple, bramble
and common sorrel. These potential foodstuffs may have been consumed during activities at
the tomb, such as burial ceremonies, or may have been deposited to accompany or
represent the dead. Hazel, crab-apple and bramble shrubs may also have been utilised in
the prehistoric field systems of North Mayo, perhaps providing material for organic
boundaries in the sub-division of the larger stone-built field walls. Barley remains were
recorded at the entrance to the house at Belderg Beg, representing the only cultivated
remains identified from any of these sites. Hazelnut shell and knotweed remains were also
present. The presence of cereal remains complements other archaeological evidence at
Belderg Beg, including the field system and quern stones, indicating that cereal-related
activities were taking place at this location.
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