Home / Science / Ancient Tools Uncovered at Irish Castle Dig
Ancient Tools Uncovered at Irish Castle Dig
4 Dec
Summary
- Early Mesolithic tools, over 9,000 years old, were discovered.
- Schoolchildren assisted archaeologists in a two-week excavation.
- Evidence of a prehistoric round house from the Bronze Age was also found.
Archaeologists excavating for the 17th-century Derrygonnelly Castle in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, made astonishing discoveries dating back millennia. The two-week dig, supported by nearly 250 schoolchildren and adult volunteers, uncovered Early Mesolithic flint and chert tools, indicating a seasonal camp used by hunter-gatherers over 9,000 years ago. These are the first such remains found in the county. The team also identified evidence of a prehistoric round house from the Early Bronze Age, around 4,000 years ago, based on pottery fragments found.
While searching for the long-lost castle, which was built in the 17th century and abandoned by the 1800s, participants found numerous 19th-century artifacts, including clay pipe fragments and a possible half-penny. They also uncovered a 17th-century ditch that once protected the castle. High-status items, such as a wine goblet stem and imported pottery, suggest the castle complex was a vibrant center during its operational period.
