Ceide Fields

An important Neolithic archaeological site in north-west Ireland

Discovery

• In the 1930s, a schoolteacher concluded that the stones beneath the peat were parts of .
• His  later became an archaeologist and began a formal study of the location: - iron probes adapted a local technique for finding  hidden in the bog - carbon dating subsequently confirmed the site's Neolithic age.
• Artefacts remain in excellent condition because the peat contains very little .

Neolithic farmers

• Their homes were  in design and included an opening in the roof.
• New practices and technology included: - preparing food inside - using pots for storage and as .
• One field could provide enough grazing for a large .
• The absence of animal shelters suggests that livestock remained outside during the .

Reasons farming ended

• lower  quality
• a rise in the amount of