ALBERT

Description: The sampling site lies 25 m east of chamber of Behy court tomb where a small patch of intact uncut peat remained. A monolith 44 cm long was removed. Total depth of peat at sampling point (TDP; adjust for shrinkage) 180 cm. The pollen spectra (16 in all) start at 3 cm (i.e. 3–4 cm: mineral soil immediately beneath the peat) to -30 cm, i.e. 30 to 29 cm ABOVE the peat/mineral soil interface. Peat near the base (-7 to -19 cm) was charcoal-rich. The age/depth model gives the following chronology:[≥2600, pre-bog development]; pollen profile: 2520-210 BC, i.e. late Neolithic/Chalcolithic to mid-Iron Age. LOI and tephra investigations were also carried out. A distinct tephra layer at -28 cm (ca. 280 BC according to age/depth model). Tephra geochemically characterised. The results of the tephra investigations have yet to be published. The age/depth curve for BHY V is a smooth spline curve (smooth factor = 0.2) that is based on the five available 14C dates and a surface age estimate (peat thickness: 180 cm, i.e. 50 cm added to compensate for peat shrinkage. Surface peat is regarded as dating to AD 1950). This is the age/depth model used in the EGQSJ publication (in press, 12/2019). A 'pine flush' is not recorded but ca. 2% Pinus in mineral soil and basal peat samples; these samples dominated by Betula; little Calluna. Very sharp Betula to Poaceae switch near base (cf. hiatus). These investigations relating to Céide Fields were carried out in PRU, NUIG, part-funded by The Heritage Council (of Ireland). The aim was to provide an environmental context for the establishment and use of the prehistoric stone-wall field system, and an overall chronological framework and an environmental history of the area.

Description: The sampling site lies ca. 20 m N of Behy court tomb where an intact area of uncut peat remains. A monolith 39 cm long was removed. Total depth of peat (adjusted for shrinkage) at sampling point (TDP) 120 cm. The pollen spectra (15 in all) start at 0 cm (i.e. 0–1 cm: mineral soil immediately beneath the peat) to -39 cm. Peat near the base (-3.5 to -9 cm) was charcoal-rich. The age/depth model gives the following chronology: [≥2400, pre-bog development]; pollen profile: 2400 BC–AD 20, i.e. early Bronze Age to mid/late Iron Age. LOI and tephra investigations were also carried out. A distinct tephra layer at -24 cm (ca. 360 BC). The results of the tephra investigations have yet to be published. There are three 14C dates, two of which are from near the base and so the lower part is chronologically is well constrained. The age/depth curve is a smooth spline curve (smooth factor = 0.1) that is based on the three available 14C dates. This is the age/depth model used in the EGQSJ publication (in press, 2019). A 'pine flush' is not recorded. Sharp Betula to Poaceae switch near base. Above that high P. lanceolata coinciding with charcoal-rich peat. These investigations relating to Céide Fields were carried out in PRU, NUIG, part-funded by The Heritage Council (of Ireland). The aim was to provide an environmental context for the establishment and use of the prehistoric stone-wall field system, and an overall chronological framework and an environmental history of the area.

Description: The sampling site was in a small basin-bog (ca. 300 x 100 m). The basin is surrounded by blanket bog that has preserved a pre-peat, extensive stone-wall, regular field system, referred to as Céide Fields. The research project, part-funded by The Heritage Council (of Ireland), commenced in 1992. The aim was to provide an environmental context for the establishment and use of the prehistoric stone wall field system and also to provide an overall chronological and palaeo-environmental framework. After establishing the basin contours and the general stratigraphy of the basin using a gouge corer and also taking trial cores for preliminary pollen analysis, the peat core GLU IV (∼5.8 m long; 10 cm diameter) was taken using a Wavin plastic pipe. The pollen and macrofossil investigations were carried out by Karen Molloy. In all, 77 samples were analysed from 150–574 cm (depths with respect to the bog surface). The pollen profile spans 〉6800 BC–AD 700, i.e. Boreal to early Medieval period. LOI and tephra investigations were also carried out. A substantial tephra layer was recorded at 228–232 cm (ca. 600 BC according to the age-depth model). The results of the tephra investigations have yet to be published. Twenty two conventional 14C dates (Groningen 14C laboratory) were obtained. Twenty of these 14C dates were used to establish the age/depth model that is derived from a fifth order polynomial regression curve obtained using Clam v. 2.2 (details are provided). This is the age/depth model used in the EGQSJ publication (in press, 2019).