Niche construction and plant-use in the Mesolithic

Overall, the archaeobotanical evidence from Mesolithic Ireland confirms that a wide range of trees, herbaceous plants, and wetland and aquatic taxa were potentially exploited for food, medicine and other uses. Charcoal and wood from these contexts attest to the fact that a broad spectrum of trees and shrubs were utilized for fuel, for constructing platforms, and for making fishing equipment and other artefacts. In some instances, certain taxa appear to have been specifically targeted for their burning or physical properties (e.g. oak for fuel, alder and hazel shoots for fish traps), but for some purposes plant-use was seemingly non selective (e.g. platforms).

However, limitations in the archaeobotanical datasets and taphonomic factors have prevented the formulation of unequivocal interpretations regarding the absolute scale of hunter-gatherer plant-use/management in Ireland. Consequently, the environmental impacts of such practices could not be adequately determined. The pollen record highlights that even when plants were used on a repeated basis for food, fuel and timber, the activity had little impact on local vegetation.

One episode of woodland disturbance was noted in the pollen record, hinting at the possible opening up of woodland, perhaps to attract wild boar. Yet, evidence for this practice in Ireland is at best equivocal. Compared to Britain and north-west Europe, signs of woodland disturbance in Mesolithic Ireland are relatively rare.

It seems, therefore, that hunter-gatherers in Ireland did shape their environment through the utilisation of wild plants, but not to the same extent as their British and north-west European counterparts nor to such a degree to have left a clear signature in the pollen record.<br>