This coastal midden site first caught archaeologists’ attention when a bronze pin and adzehead were discovered in a distinctive black layer, prompting the National Museum of Ireland to conduct a full excavation. What they uncovered was a complex archaeological sequence that tells the story of prehistoric coastal life in this corner of northwest Ireland.

The excavation revealed three distinct layers of shells; clear evidence of generations of people who made their living from the sea. Among these shell deposits, archaeologists found the remains of a hearth where ancient inhabitants would have cooked their meals, alongside a carefully constructed trench and sections of stone paving. These features paint a picture of a well;organised settlement where people processed shellfish, perhaps smoking or drying their catch for preservation. The site’s location in the townland of An Bhráid, near Annagáire, would have provided easy access to both marine resources and inland hunting grounds.

What makes this site particularly special is that these archaeological layers remain visible today, exposed in the face of the sand dune like pages in a book waiting to be read. Visitors can still see the stratified deposits that mark centuries, if not millennia, of human occupation; a rare opportunity to observe archaeology in its natural context rather than in a museum display case. The site stands as testament to the long tradition of coastal habitation in Donegal, where communities have harvested the bounty of the Atlantic shores since prehistoric times.