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Copper Mining at Mount Gabriel, Co. Cork: Bronze Age Bonanza or Post-Famine Fiasco?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2014

C. Stephen Briggs
C. Stephen Briggs*
Affiliation:
National Monuments Record, Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments (Wales) Edleston House, Queens Road, Aberystwyth, SY23 2HP, Wales
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Abstract

The background to discoveries of early mining sites in southwest Ireland is examined. Particular attention is devoted to the workings at Mount Gabriel, currently believed to date from the Bronze Age. Working principally from historical sources it is concluded that the site was exploited in shallow workings and trial pits between c. 1852 and 1862. Theories concerning the output of these and other Irish mines are discussed. Palaeoenvironmental and archaeological survey as well as documentary research are recommended to help solve the many outstanding problems.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , 1983 , pp. 317 - 333
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 1983

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References

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