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.

Full Product Details

9781782977780

Table of Contents

Reviews

This is the first comprehensive study of the earliest inhabitants of Ireland. Drawing on a range of sources, it examines their arrival, society, tools, farming practices and so on. -- Una MacConville Books Ireland

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.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available