The Irish National Heritage Park

The Irish National Heritage Park

Ferrycarrig, County Wexford, Ireland

On July 8, 2016, the Castles in Communities archaeology students and staff visited The Irish National Heritage Park.  We toured sites from the Mesolithic (stone age-7000 years ago) through thOe Viking settlement of some 1000 years ago.  We were lucky enough to be able to spend the night in the Park.  We each chose a place to sleep that suited our individual sense of adventure.  I chose a Neolithic (new stone age) farmstead.  The hut was built of wattle, daub, and thatch. It had 3 “rooms” – one large one that encompassed approximately one-third of the hut, and two smaller rooms – each partitioned off, plus a central area.  I image the smaller partitioned rooms were for livestock as they could easily be closed off.  My bed was in the larger room.  It was made of a wooden frame with wood slats, covered with straw, and I added a sheepskin and cow skin for comfort.  It also had a sheaf of bound straw for a pillow.  The hut was warm and even though it rained through the night it remained dry.  My hut and visitors.

- Nancy O'Shea