Lough Sheeauns, Co. Galway (profile SHE III): a detailed record of the Elm Decline and Neolithic Landnam in north-west Connemara

Detailed pollen analytical investigations by K. Molloy were carried out on a lake sediment core from Lough Sheeauns as part of a PhD study (1985–89). This small, sheltered lake is situated near Cleggan, in north-west Connemara where there is much evidence (mainly megaliths) for Neolithic and Bronze Age activity. A continuous, high-count, pollen record, consisting of 41 samples, enables the Elm Decline and Neolithic Landnam to be reconstructed in detail. It is concluded that the Elm Decline is caused by a disease that differentially affected elm. The Elm Decline is followed by Neolithic Landnam, a particularly intensive farming (mainly pastoral) phase. This dates to 3860–3610 cal. BC (intensive phase: 3860–3690 cal. BC). The chronology is based on 12 14C dates (13 dates in all; one reversal; this omitted). The age/depth relationship has been constructed using CLAM v. 2.2 (details are provided). Photos (scans of photographic slides, etc.) are provided in a pdf file. Additional notes: Three spectra from the top sediment are presented in a separate EXCEL file, SHE3-recent. Profile SHE IV is an outline pollen profile from a peat deposit near the eastern edge of L. Sheeauns.