Palynological Project - Louth Study

The primary study area selected was Redbog, although three other sites, ie Essexford Lough, Whiterath Bog and Liscarragh Lough were also sampled. The pollen diagrams constructed show several phases of woodland expansion and contraction, from the Neolithic (New Stone Age) through to the Early Christian period, as land was cleared for agriculture and then lost again to the forest.

Agriculture expanded gradually in this area through the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age with increasing pressure exerted on the woodlands during the period 2300 BC - 1800 BC. At this stage, agriculture would have been conducted in a predominantly forested landscape, at least in lowland areas. The woodland itself would have provided opportunities for supplementing the diet by hunting animals and collecting seeds, fruit and nuts. Clearings made in the forest were probably used for raising livestock, with cereal crops in this area seem to have contributed relatively little to the diet.

Woodland clearance seems to have continued fairly steadily from around 1600 BC on, with major clearance taking place during the Late Bronze Age, c.1000 BC to 800 BC. Crop cultivation now seems to become increasingly important in the farming economy of the region. After 800BC, however, some areas seem to be abandoned and scrub-forest starts to expand. However, there is still good evidence for continued agricultural activity during the period 600 BC to 200 BC, which is very important because this is a period for which there is little archaeological evidence for human activity and which is often seen as a "Dark Age", following the collapse of Late Bronze Age society. The succeeding Iron Age society seems to have been one based predominantly on raising cattle and other livestock - the pollen diagrams for this period show little evidence for the growing of crops.

During the period 200 BC-200AD, however, major changes are observed in the landscape. The forest regenerates and there is little evidence for human activity. The possibility of a major decline in climate and/or population around this time cannot be ruled out. This period is followed by one in which the forests are again rapidly cleared, and this time cereal pollen increases dramatically, indicating that the growing of crops was now an important component of agriculture. The climate at this time, between about 100 AD and 540 AD, was probably particularly suited to cereal production and was obviously exploited. A new influx of people into the area and possibly into other areas of Ireland from abroad has been suggested as underlying this rapid expansion of agriculture, which also saw the first real exploitation of new species such oats and rye. New cereal processing techniques in the form of the rotary quern also seem to date from this period.

Around 540 AD, however, the climate again seems to have deteriorated, resulting in changes in agriculture and in the organisation of the landscape. This may coincide with the Justinian plague, which swept across Europe from 542 AD. After 700 AD, a further expansion of crop-growing occurs, with evidence for the cultivation of hemp and flax. This disappears again, however, around 950 AD, where farming effort seems to shift once more towards animal production.

Principle Investigator: Dr. David Weir