Pre-Bog Settlement at Loona
Following the last Ice Age there was rapid forest growth in Ireland—to the point where practically the entire landscape was covered by vegetation and trees. From approximately 8,000 B.C.—4,000 B.C. (the Mesolithic period in Ireland), people were typically nomadic and did not use metal or stone tools. They moved around in small groups of gatherers and hunters—travelling through the landscape to access food growing in the wild (Michigan State University, 2009)
The Neolithic period in Ireland was roughly from 4,000 B.C. –2,000 B.C; and it brought with it a more progressive set of skills including stone tools and stone axes as well as basic farming techniques. In order to create farmland pastures, Neolithic peoples cleared the landscape. Without a tree canopy to absorb the frequent rains, the rainfall began to reach the soil where it made its way down to the impenetrable iron and iron pan. This saturated the land with water and these areas slowly began to form bogland. Settlements which existed before this time are currently referred to as ‘Pre-bog settlements.’ (Michigan State University, 2009).
There is evidence in Loona Beg of such a ‘pre-bog settlement.’ It consists of a wooden structure that was probably made of Scots Pine or Yew. A local farmer removed the wooden remains of this structure from the bog, and found it to be straight in its dimensions, however once it was removed from the bog it began to dry out and its now more curved in nature (Michigan State University, 2009).
Archaeological finds in Irish peatlands
Peatlands have proven to be very good preserving sources of archaeological material in Ireland. These objects have given archaeologists a lot of information about the people who lived in early Ireland as well as information about their tools, clothes and food stuffs used from the Stone Age up until relatively recent times (Bord na Mona, 2017).
But, why do boglands preserve artefacts so well?
The acidity of the peat as well as the deficiency of oxygen in peatlands helps preserve artefacts in bog. Because of these properties in peatlands, it is possible to find objects preserved for hundreds, if not thousands of years which would have decayed readily in ordinary mineral soils (Bord na Mona, 2017).
Some other examples of Pre-bog Stone Age sites
As stated above, peatlands have been a wonderful preserving source of pre-bog artefacts. These early communities were used for farming (e.g. the Neolithic site of the Ceide Fields in Ballycastle, Co. Mayo) or even earlier Mesolithic sites were used for camping (e.g. Lough Boora, Co. Offaly). On account of the waterlogging and the early formation of peat these sites had to be abandoned. Subsequently, vast peatlands extended over these areas for thousands of years (Bord na Mona, 2017).
It is thought that there have been approximately 1600 finds in Irish peatlands. These finds are often wooden pathways which were used as paths to help people traverse dangerous peatlands (Bord na Mona, 2017).
In what way are artefacts dated?
There are two main ways in which artefacts are dated—both of which are described below:
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Radiocarbon or Carbon 14 dating:
“Radioactive carbon (C14) is made at a steady rate in the upper atmosphere and is subsequently oxidised to carbon dioxide (C14 02). Very small quantities of Cl4 02 are uniformly mixed in the atmosphere with large quantities of carbon dioxide (Cl2 O2) which is the non-radioactive form of carbon. The constant ratio of Cl2 to C14 is fixed in the tissues of both plants and animals. When plants and animals die the non-radioactive carbon (C12) remains unchanged in the tissues but the radioactive component (C14) decays (i.e. leaves the tissues) at a constant rate over time. For example half the weight of CI4 in the tissues decays in approx. 5700 years -this is known as the half life of Cl4. Hence, by determining the amount of radioactive carbon in archaeological objects such as wood, peat, charcoal, flesh, skin, clothes etc., the age of the object, from the year it ceased to accumulate carbon to the present day, can be determined. It has been established by this method that the oldest peats in Ireland were formed approx. 9000 years ago.” (Bord na Mona, 2017).
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Dendrochronology or Tree-ring Analysis
“By studying the tree-ring patterns in trees which range from very old to very young and ensuring that the ages of the trees overlap, an unbroken year by year pattern or chronology can be built up. In Ireland there is a chronology or library for oak trees which dates back almost 8000 years. Hence an oak timber buried in peatlands can be accurately dated by comparing it against the established chronology. Bog oak can date back to 5500 years.” (Bord na Mona, 2017).
Some examples of archaeological finds in Irish boglands (Listed in ‘Bord na Mona,’ 2017).
“Recent and Medieval: Bog Butter, Bog Butter in Wooden Vessel, Earthenware Pitcher, Iron Horseshoe, Iron Cauldron, Iron Rapier, Iron Dagger, Coin Hoard, Clay Pilgrims Bottle, Togher (Trackway).”
“Christian: Leather Shoes, Leather Bottle, Wooden Deer-trap, Iron Plough Coulter, Silver and Bronze Crozier Shrine, Silver Penannular Brooch, Bronze Penannular Brooch Pin, Whetstone, Quernstone, Crannog, Togher.”
“Iron: Bog Body, Bronze Cauldron, Bronze Fibula, Bronze Bridle Bit, Bronze Spear Butt, Gold Ribbon Tore, Beehive Quernstone, Ogham Stone, Togher, Chert Flake, Wooden Vessels.”
“Bronze: Bronze Axehead, Bronze Spearhead, Bronze Sword, Bronze Dagger, Bronze Hoard (Dowris), Copper Axehead, Gold Lunula, Gold Ornaments Hoard, Gold Bracelet. Gold Gorget. Wooden Paddles.”
“Stone: Flint Arrowhead, Flint Javelin Head, Flint Adze Head, Stone Axe Head, Stone Arrow Head, Stone Spear Head, Chert “Bann” Flake, Early Farming Community (Co. Mayo) and Habitation Site (Co Offaly).”
References:
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Bord na Mona (2017). Archaeological Finds in the Peatlands of Ireland. Available at: https://www.bordnamonalivinghistory.ie/article-detail/archaeological-finds-in-the-peatlands-of-ireland/#:~:text=Pre%2DBog%20Stone%20Age%20Sites&text=Such%20locations%20were%20used%20by,the%20early%20formation%20of%20peat. Accessed 5th of September, 2024.
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Michigan State University, Study Abroad Programme. (2009). Pre-Bog Settlement. Internal Report: Folder 1, Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail—Clogher Environmental Group Ltd. Unpublished.