Doneraile’s Incised Reindeer Femur
Archived: 10 September 2026
Around 31,832 BCE, Ireland lay within the climatically unstable MIS 3, before the Last Glacial Maximum, with changing ice, exposed shelves and open periglacial habitats. Derryvree sediments in Fermanagh indicate treeless tundra wetlands, while Castlepook Cave near Doneraile preserves mammoth, giant deer, reindeer, bear, wolf and hyaena remains accumulated over time. These finds demonstrate intermittent suitable habitats and animal movements, not a complete landscape or settled population. An incised reindeer femur, dated roughly 33,000 years ago, may record stone-tool butchery and fleeting human activity. However, poor stratigraphic context and absent associated artefacts mean permanent occupation and cultural traditions remain unproven.