Geoarchaeological Analysis of a Dunefield Shell Midden Site in Carrowdough Townland, County Sligo, Ireland

Few researchers have investigated shell midden sites in western Ireland. Here, we discuss the geoarchaeological approach undertaken at an Atlantic Ocean-facing dunefield shell midden site in County Sligo, Connacht. Ground penetrating radar, magnetic susceptibility, and apparent electrical resistivity were used to map subsurface features and identify possible locations for subsequent augering. Our results show that magnetic susceptibility was the most successful geophysical technique in terms of the identification of shell-rich deposits and hearth locations, indicating the value of this method for future studies in dunefield midden sites. Most of the midden material in the dunefield was found to be surface scatter subject to substantial mixing by aeolian events, common in stormy northwestern Ireland. This study illustrates the unique challenges and productive approaches to geoarchaeological surveys in dynamic dunefield environments and discusses insights into post-medieval exploitation of coastal environments in rural western Ireland.