This slim volume is broken into three parts - an architectural history of Moycullen; results of the excavations; a paleoenvironmental study of the landscape. This book provides a fascinating overview of the village’s history and evolution, particularly from the middle ages to the present. Much of the discussion is devoted to historical remains in the present landscape, which is a departure from the traditional format of the TII publications but suits this project. Appendix 3 provides maps and details of the heritage trails that have been set up around the Moycullen area, reflecting the involvement of the Moycullen Historical Society in the project.
The first chapter takes the reader on a tour of Moycullen, identifying historical buildings throughout the village. This chapter provides an interesting discussion of the medieval settlement and the development of the modern village, which developed in the 1820s when the crossroads were created. The second chapter discusses the results of the excavations in advance of the construction of the bypass road. The meagre archaeological remains tell the story of settlement within the landscape from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages. This was primarily a production landscape, with a Bronze Age burnt mound and medieval charcoal kiln found alongside Neolithic flint tools. The final chapter focuses on the Neolithic by investing the paleoenvironmental record in the neighbouring Ballyquirke bog. This analysis revealed that the significant changes in the landscape over this period. The early Neolithic seems to have been dominated by pastoral grazing, while the Middle Neolithic saw a reduction in human activity within the landscape. Farming appears to have peaked in the middle Bronze Age, having made an appearance in the early Bronze Age but declined again towards the end of the period.
The minimal archaeological remains found in the bypass excavations mean this volume, unlike other TII publications, has little to contribute to wider archaeological studies. Instead, the analysis of the medieval settlement highlights the intersections between native Gaelic and incoming Anglo-Norman settlers; while the palaeoenvironmental study reveals how landscape use changed significantly throughout prehistory. This book demonstrates the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of a landscape, which could be emulated elsewhere. The combination of archaeology, historic buildings, and environmental studies provides a holistic story of human habitation within this landscape.