Revealing the Past 2023: Dating the Mesolithic Axe Manufacturing at Ballaghaline

In this talk, Michael Lynch explores the excavations and dating processes of axe manufacturing at Ballaghaline. The clay layer beneath the storm beach and sand dunes at Tráleathan, between Doolin pier and the mouth of the Aille River in County Clare, is constantly being eroded by the sea. Monitoring since 2014 has shown that archaeological material erodes from the clay when it is exposed. Ongoing excavations from 2015 to date have recovered numerous roughouts, flakes and hammerstones associated with the manufacture of stone axes and other tools. This presentation will gives the results of the radiocarbon dates obtained from the site to date, many of which were provided by the RIA.