Overview

Ireland's First Settlers tells the story of the archaeology and history of the first continuous phase of Ireland's human settlement. It combines centuries of search and speculation about human antiquity in Ireland with a review of what is known today about the Irish Mesolithic. This is, in part, provided in the context of the author's 50 years of personal experience searching to make sense of what initially appeared to be little more than a collection of beach rolled and battered flint tools. The story is embedded in how the island of Ireland, its position, distinct landscape and ecology impacted on when and how Ireland was colonised. It also explores how these first settlers evolved their technologies and lifeways to suit the narrow range of abundant resources that were available. The volume concludes with discussions on how the landscape should be searched for the often ephemeral traces of these early settlers and how sites should be excavated. It asks what we really know about the thoughts and life of the people themselves and what happened to them as farming began to be introduced. AUTHOR: Peter Woodman is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at University College Cork. He is the leading scholar of the Irish Mesolithic. His research interests lie in the areas of the early human settlement and ecology of Ireland and Atlantic Europe and the antiquarian history of Archaeology.

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9781789256888

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"""Ireland's First Settlers is an essential researchers' tool - a poignant, final opportunity to hear the thoughts of a period-defining authority on his most-loved academic subject.""-- ""The Prehistoric Society"" ""...this is the type of study of the Mesolithic that we need for all countries, and no one is better suited to provide it for Ireland than Peter Woodman.""--ERIK BRINCH PETERSEN "", Volume XXIV, 2015"" ""It is accessible, well-illustrated and an essential read... A hard act to follow.""--Alison Sheridan "", March April 2017"" Woodman has the ability to write a serious academic text with a light hearted and approachable style. This volume is an essential text for anyone working on the Irish Mesolithic. Expertly written and helpfully illustrated, this provides a full overview of the Irish Mesolithic and places it in a wider European context. -- "", Spring Newsletter"""

Ireland's First Settlers is an essential researchers' tool - a poignant, final opportunity to hear the thoughts of a period-defining authority on his most-loved academic subject. -- The Prehistoric Society ...this is the type of study of the Mesolithic that we need for all countries, and no one is better suited to provide it for Ireland than Peter Woodman. --ERIK BRINCH PETERSEN , Volume XXIV, 2015 It is accessible, well-illustrated and an essential read... A hard act to follow. --Alison Sheridan , March April 2017 Woodman has the ability to write a serious academic text with a light hearted and approachable style. This volume is an essential text for anyone working on the Irish Mesolithic. Expertly written and helpfully illustrated, this provides a full overview of the Irish Mesolithic and places it in a wider European context. -- , Spring Newsletter

Author Information

Peter Woodman is Emeritus Professor of Archaeology at University College Cork. He is the leading scholar of the Irish Mesolithic. His research interests lie in the areas of the early human settlement and ecology of Ireland and Atlantic Europe and the antiquarian history of Archaeology.

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