An environmental history of the Navan area, Co. Armagh
Palynology, archaeobotany and a study of lake-level fluctuations were used in a study of the environmental history of the Navan area, Co. Armagh the site of the ancient 'capital' of Ulster. A tranect of five cores a analyzed from the edge of Loughnashade for pollen and loss-on-ignition . Submerged Pinus stumps from a number of lakes were collected and dated by 14c. Major episodes of low lake-level were identified between c 8400-7000 cal BC (9300-8000 BP), c 5400-4000 cal BC (6500-5200 BP), c 3600-2500 cal BC (4800-4000 BP) and c 2200-1000 cal BC (3800-2800 BP). The Alnus-rise at Loughnashade was associated with colonization of an exposed lake-edge area, along with Pinus, the Pinus-decline was associated with rising lakeÂ­ levels. A period of high lake-level was identified between c 4000-3600 cal BC (5200-4800 BP), this occurred before the Ulmus-decline, suggesting climatic deterioration was not a direct cause. The major emphasis of this study was on the agricultural history of the area. It was demonstrated that the soils and climate of the area were particularly suited to arable agriculture. During the Bronze Age an expansion of arable agriculture is evident, culminating in the Late Bronze Age hillfort at
Weir, David Alan
Pollen; Archaeobotany; Agricultural history
An environmental history of the Navan area, Co. Armagh. Palynology, archaeobotany and a study of lake-level fluctuations were used in a study of the environmental history of the Navan area, Co. Armagh the site of the ancient 'capital' of Ulster. A tranect of five cores a analyzed from the edge of Loughnashade for pollen and loss-on-ignition . Submerged Pinus stumps from a number of lakes were collected and dated by 14c. Major episodes of low lake-level were identified between c 8400-7000 cal BC (9300-8000 BP), c 5400-4000 cal BC (6500-5200 BP), c 3600-2500 cal BC (4800-4000 BP) and c 2200-1000 cal BC (3800-2800 BP). The Alnus-rise at Loughnashade was associated with colonization of an exposed lake-edge area, along with Pinus, the Pinus-decline was associated with rising lakeÂ­ levels. A period of high lake-level was identified between c 4000-3600 cal BC (5200-4800 BP), this occurred before the Ulmus-decline, suggesting climatic deterioration was not a direct cause. The major emphasis of this study was on the agricultural history of the area. It was demonstrated that the soils and climate of the area were particularly suited to arable agriculture. During the Bronze Age an expansion of arable agriculture is evident, culminating in the Late Bronze Age hillfort at
environmental_history area archaeobotany study lake level fluctuation use study environmental_history area site ancient capital ulster core analyze edge pollen loss ignition number lake collect dated major episode low lake level identify cal cal cal cal rise associate colonization expose lake edge area along decline associate rise level period high lake level identify cal occur decline suggest climatic deterioration direct cause major emphasis study agricultural history area demonstrate soil climate area particularly suit arable_agriculture bronze_age expansion arable_agriculture evident culminate late_bronze_age hillfort