What is recorded here

Midden in Rostellan is a shallow dish of oyster shells and broken pots exposed when the sea wall failed in 1937. Carbon dating places human activity there between 1490 and 1680, likely fishers or travellers dumping what they ate beside the water. The stones still hold the shape of hands that handled food, heat and departure, even if no name survives.

Discovered September 1937 due to collapse of low sea wall (Coleman 1938, 42). Midden material (mainly oyster shells) visible in patches from E of concrete break water, to S of 'Pedestal' tower (CO088-02201-). A radio-carbon determination of 290 +/- 50 bp (calibrated date range 1490 – 1680 AD) was recovered from oyster shell at this midden (Laboratory: Beta 155381) (Milner & Woodman 2007, 103). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Cork. Volume 2: East and South Cork' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1994). In this instance the entry has been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Revised by: Paul Walsh Date of upload: 25 June 2012

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