What is recorded here

One metre of limpet shells and broken bone still lines the east wall of the prehistoric house at Inishkea South. The sea has taken the roof and much of the floor, yet it has left the kitchen waste exposed like a forgotten tray. Someone lived there long enough to fill a room with discarded food. The Atlantic now finishes what time began, returning the house to the wave one handful at a time.

Associated with a prehistoric house (MA023-018001-) at the NE end of Inishkea South. This midden represents food waste that accumulated during occupation of the house. An in situ layer (L c. 1-2m) of limpets and periwinkles shells and fragments of animal bone is exposed in section in the eroding E edge of the house. A few stones associated with the layer appear to be fire-cracked. The midden overlies or is partly incorporated into a compact layer of brown soil (D c. 0.1-0.5m), possibly an old ground surface. Shells and animal bones are also loosely scattered on the ground surface throughout the interior of the house. Attached images: MA023-018002-_01.JPG Midden layer exposed in section on E side of house (MA023-018001-) MA023-018002-_01.JPG Close-up of midden Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 20 December 202

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