Neolithic & Bronze Age Landscapes of North Mayo: full publication of survey, excavations and environmental research at “Céide Fields” and related sites
Principal Investigators
- Seamas Caulfield, Retired Associate Professor of Archaeology (UCD)
- Gretta Byrne Manager of Céide Fields Visitor Centre and Archaeological Site
- Martin Downes, Emeritus Professor of Biology, NUIM
- Noel Dunne Project Archaeologist, NRA
- Graeme Warren Lecturer, UCD School of Archaeology (Principle investigator)
- ITAS Bealdeirg (the Belderrig Research and Study Centre, which is the physical base for the project)
Funding
This project was supported by the Heritage Council under the Irish National Strategic Archaeological Research (INSTAR) Programme 2009-2010 and received further support in 2011
Abstract
This project to bring to full publication critically important aspects of the Neolithic and Bronze Age archaeology of North Mayo. We address four areas: Noel Dunne’s survey work on the Pollatomish peninsula; Seamas Caulfield’s survey/excavation in Belderrig; survey and excavation by varied parties at ‘Céide Fields’; and Gretta Byrne’s survey/excavation from Ballinglen to Rathlackan. Individually these are important sites and/or landscapes, taken as a whole they are of international significance in terms of understanding early agricultural communities in north-west Europe. Furthermore, the buried landscapes of the Céide Fields are iconic for Irish archaeology and a state candidate for World Heritage Site status.
The project builds on the success of the Céide Fields work in outreach, and remedies the lack of full academic publication. Our model is for a three year project resulting in:
- an academic monograph detailing results of survey, excavation and further specialist work
- full excavation reports and archives deposited with the relevant authorities
- a book targeted at the general public outlining the nature, significance and future of these archaeological landscapes
- redesigning and updating the 1992 displays, guide books and audiovisuals of the Céide Visitors Centre, providing display materials for the Belderrig Research Centre.
The project is collaborative across sectors, disciplines and institutions, investigates key questions in archaeology particularly as regards early farming communities, and enables further research by tackling a legacy of research- and development- led archaeology. The project transforms existing data into knowledge and makes considerable efforts to communicate this knowledge widely.
