Mount Sandel Mesolithic site

[2] Gwendoline Cave, County Clare is the only site in Ireland with evidence of human occupation that pre-dates this location.

"[6] These excavations revealed the remains of no fewer than ten structures, although these were not all contemporaneous, and a large number of pits, post-holes and hearths.

Many of the post holes were inclined towards the centre of the building which suggests that they were for holding saplings that were bent inwards after being driven into the ground to make a tent or tepee like structure.

They were hunter-gatherers catching the migrating salmon during the summer, gathering hazelnuts in the autumn and hunting wild boar in the winter.

Internal hearths heated their robust homes and represent the only confirmed Mesolithic houses so far found in Ireland.