Vegetation Changes and Woodland Management Associated with a Prehistoric to Medieval Burnt Mound Complex at Ballygawley, Northern Ireland

Abstract

This paper examines the impact on woodlands associated with burnt mound use 6 from floodplain sediments and peats, using a combination of pollen, non-pollen 7 palynomorphs, micro-and micro-charcoal and worked wood for the first time. We 8 present this data from a multi-period burnt mound complex, dating from the Late 9 Neolithic to the Medieval period, at Ballygawley, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland, to 10 reconstruct vegetation changes from the Neolithic onwards to establish the 11 significance of these changes, in particular on woodlands, whilst the burnt mounds 12 were in use. The findings from the macroscopic charcoal suggests the most abundant 13 trees were commonly, but not exclusively, exploited. Local woodland was seemingly 14 unaffected by use of burnt mounds during the Neolithic and early Bronze Age based on pollen evidence. A sustained increase in microscopic charcoal coincides with a permanent decrease in alder-carr woodland during a period of near continuous burnt mound use between 1725 and 530 BC and a second phase of high microscopic charcoal values, c. AD 880, corresponds to the end of the penultimate phase of burnt mound use. Evidence from the worked wood indicates that some form of woodland management may have used for hazel from the Neolithic onwards.

Analysis of a brown earth palaeosol and derived sediments associated with a Mesolithic pit, a Late Neolithic – Early Bronze Age burnt mound and an Early Bronze Age burnt mound on Exmoor, UK

“…Brown et al (2016) suggest textile production and/or hide leather processing/working, based on palaeoecological and geochemical analyses. Mighall et al (2018) provide evidence of coprophilous fungal spores associated with herbivores and burnt mounds, indicating a pastoral linkage for these monuments, whilst also suggests an association between burnt mounds and pastoral economies, again through coprophilous fungi. Brück (2019, 178-179) highlights how burnt mounds are located close to a water source, but often at distance from settlements, sometimes in liminal areas.…”

“…This colluvium is interpreted as being derived from human induced landscape disturbance, most likely some form of localised woodland disturbance, facilitating brown earth soil erosion. At Ballygawley and Roghan burnt mounds, Northern Ireland, analysis of pollen did not reveal definable human impacts on vegetation associated with the use of burnt mounds (Wheeler et al (2016); Mighall et al (2018)). It therefore seems probable that the colluvium under the burnt mound at Farley Water relates to wider human use of this landscape, rather than construction and use of the burnt mound per se.…”

“…Furthermore, the presence of Quercus from the CPR/anthracological analysis suggests woodland is likely to have been present within a relatively short distance from this monument. Comparable, but more detailed charcoal analysis of a burnt mound complex at Ballygawley, Northern Ireland (Mighall et al 2018), demonstrated for the Neolithic -Copper Age Alnus glutinosa was the dominant fuel type, with lesser amounts of Quercus, Prunus avium and Prunus padus, with eleven fuel wood taxa identified for this period. In the Bronze Age Alnus glutinosa was again the dominant fuel source, although Corylus avelenna type was well represented, and lesser amounts of nine other wood species were recorded.…”

“…The Early Bronze Age date of the burnt mound is significant indicating human activity on the Exmoor uplands beyond the construction of cairns and barrows. Intriguingly, the very limited pollen data does suggest some grassland in the locale, with possibly some clearance already having occurred at this early date, with Mighall et al (2018) noting that burnt mounds were often positioned within partially open locales. However, woodland is well represented, with the presence of Alnus likely growing along rivers and spring lines and probably some hazel scrub.…”

“…A radiocarbon date from Quercus charcoal provided a date of 2346 -2138 cal BC (95.4%) (SUERC-56652 (GU35968)), although an old wood effect should be considered possible given the identification of trunk wood. Brown et al (2016) also recorded the use of Alnus in burnt mound deposits from Ireland, associated with the clearance/exploitation of wet woodland, alongside Mighall et al (2018) showing use of Quercus and Alnus branch wood as wood fuel in a burnt mound in Northern Ireland. 103) interpretation: this context is the earliest in the burnt mound sequence excavated, containing burnt rock fragments and charcoal.…”