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Environmental Archaeology from the Gas Pipeline to the West

Lorna O'Donnell

(Posted 25.10.05)
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Excavations along the Gas Pipeline to the West in association with Bord Gáis Eireann has provided a unique opportunity for environmental analysis across a wide transect of the country. Charcoal and wood was examined from ninety-five sites along the pipeline, from Dublin to Limerick. One of the main site types excavated were fulachta fiadh. Some of these were well preserved in waterlogged conditions, such as at the Late Bronze Age site of Cahiracon (02E0952), Co. Clare, which had worked oak timbers lining the trough. Most of the timbers had been radially split, which is the easiest conversion to achieve with oak, as it utilizes the natural weaknesses in the wood. Jam curves and facets showed that axes with convex blades up to 60mm wide were used on the wood.

fig. 1

At the Middle Bronze Age site of Ballycorrick (02E1186), Co. Clare, a large alder trunk was used to line the base of the fulacht fiadh. Examination of facet marks revealed that different axes were used on each side of the tree, which indicates two people worked to fell the tree at the same time. At Inchagreenoge (02E0899), an Early Bronze Age fulacht fiadh site in Co. Limerick, a beautifully carved yew (Taxus baccata) mallet was found preserved in peat (Fig. 1). The trunk of a carefully selected tree formed the head of the mallet, while an extending branch made a convenient handle.

Charcoal analysis from fulachta fiadh demonstrated that a range of trees were gathered as firewood, with particularly alder (Alnus glutinosa), hazel (Corylus avellana), oak (Quercus spp.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsior) (Fig. 2). These are interesting results, as due to the typical location of fulachta fiadh one would expect to find very high levels of typically ‘wetland’ species, such as alder and willow. The presence of trees that generally prefer to grow in more ‘dryland’ conditions such as hazel indicates that firewood was collected from dry areas, or that the site was located on the boundary of a dry and wetland environment Cores from a number of these fulacht fiadh sites were examined for pollen and coleopteran remains. Overall, the results from the pollen analysis and wood/charcoal were similar, particularly in the case of Leahys (02E0849), Co. Limerick, where the pollen results indicated that the site was positioned in a small clearing in alder woodland. In comparison, the charcoal was dominated by alder. Charcoal from Bronze Age funerary sites was also examined, with a particular emphasis on the types of wood used for cremation pyres. The results demonstrated that there was a definite trend in the choice of oak for the cremation process (Fig. 3). While oak is a resilient wood and therefore frequently over-represented in archaeological samples, the extremely high levels of the wood identified from cremation contexts indicates that it was purposefully selected as a fuel. Interestingly, preliminary comparisons with the osteological results suggest that different trees were used for burning animals. The selection of mainly oak for cremation is a trend that appears to have been practiced from Westmeath to Limerick throughout the Bronze Age. This compared well with the plant remains work, which indicates the purposeful inclusion of cereals and other plant remains in cremation pyres and pits (Fig. 4). When plant remains from habitation and funerary sites was compared, it was noted that wheat (Triticum spp.) tended to be identified more frequently from habitation sites, whereas barley (Hordeum vulgare) was mostly found at cremation sites (although there are some biases in this result). Less charcoal was available for analysis from habitation sites, however it does demonstrate that oak, hazel and ash were used frequently in the Bronze Age. During the Early Historic period, there is a clear preference for the use of oak, probably relating to metalworking activity.
fig. 2	fig. 3	fig. 4

An integrated archaeological and environmental assessment edited by Eoin Grogan will be published soon. Lorna O’Donnell Brown, A.G., Hatton, J. and Davis, S., 2004. Environmental Analyses of Samples from the BGE Gas Pipeline Excavations, Ireland. Unpublished technical report for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. Johnston, P., 2005. Analysis of the Plant Remains from the Gas Pipeline to the West. Unpublished technical report for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd. O’Donnell, L., 2005. Wood and Charcoal from the Gas Pipeline to the West. Unpublished technical report for Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.