07/10/2026
An individual artefact can tell us part of a story, but we often learn much more by looking at a group of artefacts together. Archaeologists call this group an assemblage.
At the Glenulra Enclosure, archaeologists identified an assemblage of 192 stone artefacts made from materials including flint, chert, quartz and rock crystal. Among them were flakes and cores left behind from stone working, along with scrapers, a leaf-shaped arrowhead and part of a stone axe. Sherds from three Early Neolithic bowls were also recovered.
Looking at the assemblage as a whole helps us recognise patterns. We can ask what materials people selected, what kinds of tools they made and what activities may have taken place at the site. We also need to consider where the artefacts were found and whether the site was disturbed later.
Together, the artefacts from Glenulra give us a closer look at the skills and daily activities of the people who used the Céide Fields landscape thousands of years ago.
If you would like to learn more about the rich archaeology of Céide Fields, our visitor centre is open seven days a week from 10am, with last admission 5:15pm.
Heritage Ireland / OPW - Office of Public Works
