2011:147 - INISTRAHULL, Donegal

The main excavation in 2010 on Inishtrahull took place at Site 1, where scatters of flint artefacts were found adjacent to a deserted cottage (Excavations 2010, no. 186). These included elements that were typical of the early Mesolithic. Excavations undertaken to establish whether there were any in situ deposits suggested that the area had been totally disturbed both by farming and by rabbits. In retrospect, it was felt that some material might have survived in situ either closer to a nearby rock face, where soils were much thicker, or under the cottage, where the walls and a concrete floor were thought to provide a sealed context. Neither of the two new test pits placed north of the original line of trenches nor a pit placed inside the cottage, in its south-west corner, produced any evidence of an in situ occupation layer. The only fresh material was a few flakes found near the rock face.

The collapsed rabbit warren at Site 2 was visited in order to pick up any newly exposed artefacts.