Radiocarbon dating of an artifact found in the Burren in County Clare has redefined the time line of human inhabitance in Ireland. A shellfish cooker found in 2009 has been identified to be around 6,000 years old, predating the nearby Poulnabrone dolmen by hundreds of years.
The Irish Examiner reports that a midden, “a cooking area where nomad hunter-gatherers boiled or roasted shellfish,” was discovered at Fanore Beach in Clare in 2009 by local woman Elaine O’Malley. Along with the midden were axes and smaller stone tools, artifacts of the Stone Age.
Also found at the site was “mysterious black layer of organic material” which researchers believe could have been from a tsunami that struck the Western coast of Ireland during the Stone Age, possibly wiping out the population of the area.
"This is the oldest settlement in Clare," said Michael Lynch, field monument adviser for Co Clare. "We have always thought hunter-gatherers existed in Clare but this is the first real evidence of that.”
"We know that they were cooking and eating shellfish here,” said Lynch of the pre-farming settlement discovered, “but we don’t know yet exactly what method they were using to cook it. So hopefully that is one of the things we can uncover in the weeks ahead."
The mysterious black layer found at the site remains under investigation. "We have not been able to identify exactly what this black layer is yet but, as it happens, it is this layer which helped to protect the ancient settlement that we are currently excavating,” said Lynch.
"If we can establish a date for this black material, it will help us to piece together more of the mystery of this site and it could tell us a bit about what happened here that brought the use of the midden to an end.
"It is possible that this is the result of a major climatic event, a massive storm or possibly a tsunami, or some other major event of that sort, which would have thrown up a large amount of debris all at one time.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | May 12, 2012, 08:24 AM EDT
Wow! 4,000 BCE! 4,829 years before a Irish provincial king, Dermor Mc Murrough - King of Leinster [eastern Ireland] and the Foreigners, made the fatal error of involving the king of a neighbouring realm - King Henry II of England, in his bid for the High-Kingship of Ireland. The rest is hysteria! Now ya know where it all went pear-shaped.
seanomelb | May 11, 2012, 08:05 PM EDT
Nice comment CelticQueenUSA
ciaradexy | May 11, 2012, 02:05 PM EDT
CelticQueen, are you away ancient times involved paganism? a far cry from your beloved homophobic paedo protecting church.
johnshiel | May 11, 2012, 11:24 AM EDT
one of the best things about Irish antiquities (compared to American) is that they so rarely have fences around them. So often, you can touch them, walk on/in them. Troubling part is that this also leads to their possible dimunition. Still, I'm very glad to have visited, for example, the Cliffs of Moher before and after they were "improved" with multi millinos in railings, barriers, concrete walkways, and indoor multimedia shows. Oh yeah, and admission and parking fees. The tourist's Ireland today is not the same as it will be in 20/30/50 years. I say get it while it's real(est). Go now, have a ball, do your own planning and keep your own pace. You'll have earned your pint each evening. Slainte!
EphraimKibbey | May 11, 2012, 01:01 AM EDT
Interesting science article IC. "I'd like some more, please!" 4000 BC/BCE - Wow, the Irish have been around a long time.
aloistmartin | May 10, 2012, 09:58 PM EDT
The thought of Protestants and Irish Antiquities, always reminds me of our own Doo Dah Parade @?
CelticQueenUSA | May 10, 2012, 09:54 PM EDT
This is fascinating stuff. I love the ancient times. I think I may have lived then, but who knows?
seanomelb | May 10, 2012, 06:13 PM EDT
The secret ingredient that makes Guinness black
Murph46 | May 10, 2012, 04:41 PM EDT
Mold from planet byethebay!
Murph46 | May 10, 2012, 03:38 PM EDT
How interesting....Ireland seems to have such a wealth of history and such......wonder what the black stuff is? Mold? Composted cavemen? Partially rotted dragon corpses?
RedBranch | May 10, 2012, 03:18 PM EDT
Definetly Stone Age
Searlit | May 10, 2012, 02:30 PM EDT
Positively beautiful place!
Murph46 | May 10, 2012, 01:47 PM EDT
Giant Black Kilt?
blackbearpause | May 10, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT
If it were an organic shawl or something like that wouldn't it decompose after all these years? Perhaps it is something more like a black mold substance, or some other form of life remains.
bob40wil | May 10, 2012, 11:43 AM EDT
I like the loin cloth serving wench part.
johnshiel | May 10, 2012, 10:32 AM EDT
medieval banquets already entertain tourists in Clare, at Bunratty and perhaps elsewhere. Could this discovvery spawn a new stone age banquet for tourists in Ireland? Shellfish from the coals, serving wenches in -- what -- loin cloths? Maybe Planet of the Apes would provide costuming ideas? Primitive beer? Musical entertainment in the form of clacking stones and howling tenors? Just askin'...