Midden

The National Monuments Service's description

In Sligo Bay on Oyster Island, located on the S shoreline at the W end of the island.
This midden was discovered in 2009 during a survey undertaken for the Heritage Council (Kytmannow et al. 2009, 7-9). The midden is visible as a layer (max. D 0.6m) of densely concentrated oyster shells, which is exposed in section along the shoreline. It has been traced intermittently for a length of c. 50m. A single lithic, a bi-polar core, was recovered. The midden was sampled for environmental and dating analyses, and produced a C14 date indicating use in the Iron Age (2nd Cent AD), (Kytmannow, et al, 2009, 27; Kytmannow et al. 2010, 6). There is an enclosure (SL208----) dated to the 13th century AD immediately adjacent.

Compiled by: Jane O’ Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 22 January 2018

References

Kytmannow, T., Hunt, C., Malone, C. and Kahlert, T. 2009 Living on the Edge: Archaeological Survey of shell middens on five islands in Sligo Bay. Unpublished Report to the Heritage Council of Ireland, 25th of Nov 2009.

Kytmannow, T., Hunt, C. and Kahlert, T. 2010 Living on the Edge: Archaeological Survey of shell middens on five islands in Sligo Bay, second season. Unpublished Final Report to the Heritage Council of Ireland, 12th of Dec 2010. Heritage Research Grants Scheme, 2010: Reference R00533.