Midden, Drung, Co. Donegal

Co. Donegal |

Settlement Sites

Midden, Drung, Co. Donegal

In the townland of Drung, near Malin in County Donegal, archaeologists discovered a shell midden that offers a glimpse into the prehistoric past of Ireland's northwestern coast.

This modest archaeological feature, measuring five metres in length and just 20 centimetres deep, yielded an intriguing collection of flint implements when excavated by researchers in the early 1960s. Shell middens like this one are essentially ancient rubbish heaps, created when coastal communities discarded shells from consumed shellfish along with other domestic waste; over time, these accumulations became valuable archaeological deposits.

The flint tools recovered from the Drung midden suggest this site was more than just a casual dining spot. These implements would have served multiple purposes for the people who created them, from processing food to crafting other tools and materials essential for daily life. The presence of worked flint alongside discarded shells paints a picture of a community that exploited both marine resources and stone tool technology, a combination typical of Ireland's coastal prehistoric settlements.

While the exact age of the Drung midden remains uncertain, such sites in Ireland can date from the Mesolithic period through to more recent prehistory. The discovery, documented by Rynne in 1963 and later incorporated into the comprehensive Archaeological Survey of County Donegal, contributes to our understanding of how ancient peoples adapted to and thrived in the coastal landscapes of northwest Ireland. Today, this unremarkable patch of ground stands as evidence of thousands of years of human activity along Donegal's rugged shores.

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