One of the oldest and best documented sites of early human habitation on Ireland is Mount Sandel, County Derry, investigated by Peter Woodman in the 1970s. The excavations uncovered hearths and postholes from early Mesolithic dwellings.
Radiocarbon dates show the site was occupied about 7000 - 6500 bc.
Early Mesolithic people mainly used small flint blades called microliths, many of which have been found in the area around the site.
In the absence of large animals at this period in Ireland these Mesolithic people appear to have relied upon a diet of wild boar, birds, fish and hazelnuts.
Another documented site of a similar age to Mount Sandel is Lough Boora, near Kilcormac in County Offaly.
Although dwellings were not found, an assemblage of flints and polished stone axe-heads were also recorded for this Mesolithic site.
Further documenting the more widespread appearance of Mesolithic people in Ireland (than was first thought) include the flintwork found in the valley of the Blackwater in Munster.
Diodorus notes that:
Their{Celts} aspect is terrifying...They are very tall in stature, with ripling muscles under clear white skin.
Their hair is blond, but not naturally so: they bleach it, to this day, artificially, washing it in lime and combing it back from their foreheaads.
They look like wood-demons, their hair thick and shaggy like a horse's mane.
Some of them are cleanshaven, but others - especially those of high rank, shave their cheeks but leave a moustache that covers the whole mouth and, when they eat and drink, acts like a sieve, trapping particles of food...
The way they dress is astonishing: they wear brightly coloured and embroidered shirts, with trousers called bracae and cloaks fastened at the shoulder with a brooch, heavy in winter, light in summer.
These cloaks are striped or checkered in design, with the seperate checks close together and in various colours.
[The Celts] wear bronze helmets with figures picked out on them, even horns, which made them look even taller than they already are...while others cover themselves with breast-armour made out of chains.
But most content themselves with the weapons nature gave them: they go naked into battle...Weird, discordant horns were sounded, [they shouted in chorus with their] deep and harsh voices, they beat their swords rythmically against their shields.
Ireland's History in Maps
