Stuck Between a Rock and Hard Place

Abstract

In Ireland, differential levels of skill were occasionally observed in Mesolithic stone tool assemblages. This research has only concentrated on assemblages which predominantly derive from the flint-rich north-eastern region of the island. The lithic assemblages excavated from sites located in the south, west and midlands of Ireland are often composed of a mixture of raw materials including volcanic rocks and sometimes contain only coarse-grained chert. The lithic assemblage from Ferriter's Cove, Co. Kerry, will serve as a case study for the exploration of the differential use of raw materials during knapping skill transmission and its organization in the flint-poor regions of Ireland.