How Neolithic (Stone Age) People Lived
The Neolithic or new stone age period in Ireland dates from 4500 – 2500 BC and was when many new developments had been brought to Ireland. More people came into Ireland from Britain and mainland Europe bringing with them skills, trades and new technologies. Not only was an ancient Irish culture taking shape but so was the landscape. It changed in such a way that it preserved different parts of Ireland’s history providing evidence how man once lived in Ireland.
Neolithic Times in Ireland
For an easier understanding of Ireland’s Neolithic history we broken this era down into the following sections:
- How did they settlers source food
- Neolithic dwellings and homes
- Tools used during the Neolithic period
- Burial chambers and passage tombs
- How Neolithic people lived in Ireland
Ireland progressed away from the Mesolithic period with a new wave of people. These new Neolithic people or settlers brought with them better skills, ideas and technologies that would make a major impact on Ireland.
Food in Ireland during the Neolithic period
Farming was introduced to Ireland about 3700BC by the Neolithic settlers. These skilled farmers imported cattle’s, sheep and goats because during that time these animals could not be found in Ireland. They farmed wheat and barley using Flint-bladed sickles to harvest grain that would be later be grounded into flour.
Neolithic dwellings
Neolithic dwellings were built rectangular larger than the circular type homes during the same period. These new dwellings would be built in a rectangular shape and would have been a more permanent structure than before. Built from large tree trunks, weaved branches covered in mud the rectangular buildings would have two large gable walls at either side to support the roof structure, similar to what we see in today’s buildings. The roofs were thatched with reeds with a hole to allow for smoke inside the dwelling to escape, similar to how a chimney works.
Household objects would include pottery bowls used for storage and cooking. Flint made tools such as javelin heads, blades, knives and scrapers would have been used for a variety of tasks around the home.
One of the earliest finds for Neolithic homes in Ireland was at Ballynagilly, County Tyrone. Excavated between 1966 and 1971 it was a site of a rectangular house measuring 6.5m x 6m with foundation trenches and post-holes.
Tools used in the Neolithic period
Neolithic farmers were highly skilled people who made their own tools and built their own farms. Tools became more advanced and porcellanite was being used for making them, a tougher rock than flint that was used before.
As porcellanite was tougher it was a good material for making stronger tools. This allowed the farmers to chop down bigger trees and clear more forestry to make way for new farming land. Porcellanite is more popular in the northern area of Ireland, in today’s county Antrim, and was the location of where axes would have been produced. Some of these axes have been found all over Ireland but also in Britain which suggests the Neolithic people of Ireland were trading overseas.
Neolithic Burials
Possibly one of most remarkable things the Neolithic people left behind and that can still be found in Ireland today is their burial sites, and lots of them. The first evidence of burials in Ireland was from the Neolithic period and with the building of the passage tombs at Newgrange, the hill of Tara, the Poulnabrone Dolmen and Queen Maeve’s Cairn in Sligo.
Today Ireland is very well known for its death and burial traditions but must have been more important for the people of Neolithic Ireland due their grand burial chambers that had been constructed.
Articles for further reading
Poulnabrone Dolmen burial tomb
Other related websites & sources
pretanicworld.com – neolithic ireland
barons-court.com – Co Tyrone Archaeology
belfasttelegraph.co.uk – Neolithic man puts major bypass on hold
mythicalireland.com – Fourknocks megalithic mound
megaliths.net – Megalithic map of Ireland
Books of interest
In Search of Ancient Ireland
This is a very thorough history of Ireland. Well compiled with an interesting layout (each chapter is written by a different author). This would be great for someone looking for an easy-to-read, concise introductory Irish history resource.
Price: $15.10
Temples of Stone: Exploring the Megalithic Tombs of Ireland
This fully-illustrated book looks at the builders themselves, how the megaliths were created, the rituals that took place there and finally why people stopped building them.
Price: $46.39
Early Ireland: An Introduction to Irish Prehistory
Engagingly written and packed with illustrations, Early Ireland, seeks to introduce the general reader to the riches of Irish prehistory--a span of eight thousand years from the end of the Ice Age to the first centuries of the Christian era.
Price:$69.56
Newgrange: Archaeology, Art and Legend
Older than Stonehenge, Mycenae and the Egyptian pyramids, the huge megalithic tomb of Newgrange in Ireland stands as a testament to the achievements of our Stoneage forebears over 5000 years ago. This is an account of that structure.
Price:$19.66
Exploring Newgrange
Exploring Newgrange uncovers, in words and illustrations, the extent, and limitations, of our knowledge of this world-famous site .
Price:$15.95