Midden, Carrickanee, Co. Donegal
Co. Donegal |
Settlement Sites
On the shores of Inch Island in County Donegal, archaeologists have documented the remnants of an ancient shell midden that tells a story of prehistoric coastal life.
First described by researcher Harte in 2001, this archaeological site sits at the island end of the Inch Road embankment, though much of it had already been disturbed by the time of its documentation. Harte observed that the midden, along with two other similar sites nearby, was positioned roughly 12 to 14 feet from the high water mark, suggesting these were strategically placed refuse heaps from communities who lived close to, but safely above, the tidal zone.
The midden at Carrickanee has suffered considerable damage over the years, with Harte noting that it was "nearly all removed for filling or manure", a common fate for shell middens which were often raided by farmers seeking lime-rich material to improve their fields. The construction of three cottages at the immediate end of the embankment likely destroyed any remaining traces of the original deposit. When archaeologists Woodman and Milner examined the area in the early 2000s, they found only scattered shell fragments in the topsoil of the field behind these cottages, a mere shadow of what once existed.
Despite the site's poor preservation, it has yielded some intriguing finds. A small collection of flint artefacts was recovered from the corner of the field where the midden once stood, offering tangible evidence of the stone tool technology used by the people who created this ancient rubbish heap. These shell middens, whilst appearing unremarkable, provide crucial evidence of Ireland's Mesolithic inhabitants; the shells, bones, and tools preserved within them offer glimpses into the diet, seasonal movements, and daily activities of hunter-gatherer communities who thrived along Ireland's coasts thousands of years ago.
