![Sample our Humanities journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5939/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Humanities.jpg"})
Abstract
This paper reports on the first systematic attempt to conduct archaeological survey and excavation for submerged prehistory on the island of Ireland. Fieldwork was conducted in two small bays where Early Mesolithic flint artefacts washed ashore hinted at the presence of a submerged assemblage. Methods employed include non‐intrusive survey, hand coring and excavation. Together, these allowed identification of the artefact source, albeit reworked, in one bay and an early Holocene peat in the other. Though the subtidal assemblage is reworked and relatively small, it is significant in an Irish context and more widely illustrates the potential preservation of prehistoric sites and palaeo‐landscapes in high‐energy settings.
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by the Heritage Council, Society of Antiquaries and Royal Archaeological Institute. Additional dive support (2011) was provided by the NERC National Facility for Scientific Diving. I am indebted to my colleagues for helping with research and fieldwork, notably Rory Quinn, Peter Woodman, Ruth Plets, Colin Breen, Wes Forsythe, Rory McNeary, Chris McGonigle, David Rogers, Paul Montgomery, Lorna O'Donnell and Jørgen Dencker. I am grateful for the support of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in particular Karl Brady. Thanks also to two anonymous reviewers whose insightful comments have improved the manuscript. Finally, special thanks to Brian McNaught, Eddie Harkin and Tommy Gallagher for their discovery of Eleven Ballyboes and for building up the lithic collection.