Environmental Archaeology in Ireland

by Eileen M. Murphy, Nicki J. Whitehouse

Overview

This edited volume of 16 papers provides an introduction to the techniques and methodologies, approaches and potential of environmental archaeology within Ireland. Each of the 16 invited contributions focuses on a particular aspect of environmental archaeology and include such specialist areas as radiocarbon dating, dendrochronology, palaeoentomology, human osteoarchaeology, palynology and geoarchaeology, thereby providing a comprehensive overview of environmental archaeology within an Irish context. The inclusion of pertinent case studies within each chapter will heighten awareness of the profusion of high standard environmental archaeological research that is currently being undertaken on Irish material. The book will provide a key text for students and practitioners of archaeology, archaeological science and palaeoecology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781782974789
Publisher:	Oxbow Books
Publication date:	10/10/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	306
File size:	13 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments     vii
Contributors     ix
Introduction   Eileen M. Murphy   Nicki J. Whitehouse     xi
Dating
Radiocarbon Dating: A Practical Overview   Philip Barratt   Paula J. Reimer     1
Dendrochronology and Lessons Learned from Irish Examples   David M. Brown   Mike G. L. Baillie     18
The Use of Tephra in Linking European Sequences of Terrestrial, Lacustrine, Marine and Ice Palaeoenvironmental Records   Jon R. Pilcher     37
Humans and Animals
Human Osteoarchaeology in Ireland   Eileen M. Murphy     48
Mammal Bone Studies from Prehistoric Irish Sites   Finbar McCormick     77
Exploitation of Birds and Fish in Historic Ireland: A Brief Review of the Evidence   Sheila Hamilton-Dyer     102
Molluscs and Middens: The Archaeology of 'Ireland's Early Savage Race'?   Emily V. Murray     119
The Study of Fossil Insect Remains in Environmental and Archaeological Investigations: An Irish Perspective   Nicki J. Whitehouse     136
Plants
Environmental Archaeology in Ireland: A Personal and Archaeobotanical Perspective   Michael Monk     164
Wood and Charcoal Research in Ireland   Ingelise Stuijts     179
The Study ofNon-wood Plant Macro-remains: Investigating Past Societies and Landscapes   Meriel McClatchie     194
Pollen Analysis and Archaeology in Ireland   Gill Plunkett     221
Approaches to Environmental Archaeology
Alluvial Geoarchaeology in Ireland   Anthony G. Brown   Gerard Aalbersberg   Martin Thorp   Peter Glanville     241
Multi-proxy Approaches to Palaeohydrological Investigations of Raised Bogs in Ireland: A Case Study from Derryville, Co. Tipperary   Christopher J. Caseldine   Benjamin R. Gearey     259
Exploring the Role of Environment in Wetland Archaeological Contexts in Ireland   Gill Plunkett   Conor McDermott     277
Legislation
Heritage Legislation and Environmental Archaeology in Ireland   John O Neill     296

Editorial Reviews

This is a no-nonsense guide to the state of the art and best practice, a must for those working in Irish archaeology and valuable also to researchers elsewhere.'

British Archaeology, 2008 - Martin Bell

A high quality volume that will become essential reading for those working in or studying environmental archaeology in Ireland'.

Journal of Wetland Archaeology, Vol. 8, 2008 - Alan K. Outram

The references and the themes are well-chosen, the reviews are useful and, as there was a gap in the literature, the book is to be commended.'

The Holocene 18.7, 2008 - Pete Coxon