Elephant Hall’s incised reindeer femur is compelling because it sits between environmental evidence and human history: a possible cut mark may signal butchery, yet its insecure collection context prevents us from deciding whether it records an isolated visit or repeated seasonal use of Ireland. The article usefully contrasts this ambiguous clue with Derryvree’s local wetland record and Castlepook’s broader cold-adapted fauna, reminding us that MIS 3 landscapes were varied rather than uniform. What combination of securely stratified finds, dating techniques and comparative evidence from north-west Europe would most convincingly clarify whether people briefly visited Castlepook or used the area recurrently?