What is recorded here

Midden in Tully Beg is a late Mesolithic shell midden on a small tombolo at Renvyle, County Galway, dated to roughly 4500-5300 BC. Periwinkle, dogwhelk and limpet shells still mark the eroded edge, though much has been scattered by wind and sea. People may have stood there at low tide, gathering what the beach gave back, while the Atlantic took the rest.

On a very small tombolo-like projection (c. 30m N-S; c. 25m E-W) located about midway along a sandy beach at Renvyle. Described by Murray (2009, 1-3) as a heavily eroded midden composed primarily of periwinkle shells and some dogwhelk and limpet shells. Eroded out and windblown shells were scattered widely in the vicinity. While some shells still survived in section, they were embedded in sterile sand and not in organic occupation debris. A sample of the shells submitted for radiocarbon dating produced date ranges of cal BC4498-4026 and cal BC4756-5325 respectively, placing the midden in the late Mesolithic period. Another midden (GA010-035----) was recorded by Lynam (1922, 167) to the E of this one. The following image has been uploaded: GA010-040----_01.jpg Compiled by: Olive Alcock Date of upload: 2 August 2022 Murray, E. 2009 A late mesolithic shell midden at Tullybeg, Co. Galway. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society 61, 1-3.

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