Quantifying woodland resource usage and selection from Neolithic to post Mediaeval times in the Irish Midlands

Abstract

The antiquity and context (site or feature type) are the two principal factors that act as a framework for interpreting charcoal and wood data from archaeological sites in the recreation of past woodland environments. This research addresses these parameters through the analysis of over 18,000 charcoal fragments from 57 archaeological excavations carried out along a 61 km road scheme in the midland region of Ireland. Observations on spatial vegetation dynamics and woodland resource patterns are also reported on. The data were analysed through percentage frequency and multivariate analyses. The results reveal woodland resource usage in terms of wood types selected for use as fuel or as structural wood as well as patterns of change and variability in taxonomic composition in relation to site types, feature types and time periods. Selection was found to be low in prehistoric times and in particular at burnt mound sites/fulachta fiadh but became increasingly important as time progressed. This has important implications when charcoal from archaeological settings is used in environmental reconstructions.

Keywords:

• Ireland
• Charcoal
• Wood usage
• Woodland change

ORCID

Ellen O Carroll http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3317-0623

Fraser J.G Mitchell http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9857-5632

Acknowledgements

This research was funded under the Fellowship Programme of the National Roads Authority (NRA) of Ireland. We would like to thank the NRA for support and assistance throughout the project and in particular, Rónán Swan, Michael Stanley and Albert Daly. We wish to thank all the archaeologists and companies who supplied material for charcoal analysis. Many thanks to Lorna O'Donnell and Oliver Nelle for suggestions, comments and discussions.