SOCIETY OF IRISH FORESTERS
Cumann Foraoiseoirí na hÉireann
Annual Seán Mac Bride Forestry Lecture
Seeing the woods for the trees: the history of woodlands and wood use as revealed through archaeological excavation
by
Dr. Ellen OCarroll
Ellen OCarroll – Archaeological Consultancy.
Venue: Theatre FS01, Agriculture Building, UCD
Date: Thursday, 9 October 2014 at 7.30pm
In this lecture, Dr Ellen OCarroll reveals how different wood types were used and selected in the past as well as investigating Ireland’s woodland history from the Mesolithic Period to Modern times. This evidence is recreated by analysing wood remains from archaeological excavations.
A selection of wooden objects unearthed from archaeological excavations will also be discussed in understanding how and why these materials were obtained, used and valued in Ireland. These objects are tangible links with our past and demonstrate the importance of wood to our ancestors.
Ellen completed her PhD at the Botany Department, Trinity College, Dublin. She is an archaeologist, anatomical wood specialist and palynologist (pollen specialist) and has published widely on aspects of woodland resource use and has been involved in the National Museum Bog Bodies Project as their wood specialist. Ellen currently works as a freelance environmental archaeologist and has developed guidelines for the sampling of wood remains from archaeological excavations with the National Roads Authority.