Fiona Beglane

• Lecturer of Archaeology at Institute of Technology Sligo

Despite the domestic cat's (Felis catus) close association with humans, the timing and circumstances of its domestication and subsequent introduction to Europe are unresolved. Domestication of its wild progenitor, the African wildcat (F. lybica), is widely attributed to the emergence of farming. Wildcats are said to have been attracted to settled c...

The ways that pigs interact with humans are more flexible than other livestock. This plasticity means that pig behaviour can evidence a tremendous range of cultural phenomena, some of which may not otherwise show up in the archaeological record. We explore how people and pigs interacted in Ireland over 6000 years (4000 BC–AD 1900) from the perspect...

Over the last 10,000 y, humans have manipulated fallow deer populations with varying outcomes. Persian fallow deer ( Dama mesopotamica ) are now endangered. European fallow deer ( Dama dama ) are globally widespread and are simultaneously considered wild, domestic, endangered, invasive and are even the national animal of Barbuda and Antigua. Despit...

Domesticated cattle were brought to Ireland during the Neolithic. By the early medieval period, 4000 years later, these animals were central to social and economic status in Irish communities and the landscape was organised around cattle husbandry to a degree unattested elsewhere in Europe. How this socio-economic importance developed is unclear. H...

Domestic cats were derived from the Near Eastern wildcat (Felis lybica), after which they dispersed with peolple into Europe. As they did so, it is possible that they interbred with the indigenous population of European wildcats (Felis silvestris). Gene flow between incoming domestic animals and closely related indigenous wild species has been prev...

Free access to the article until September 18, 2023, click on this link: https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1hVjL,rVDBflZt

Dogs have been essential to life in the Siberian Arctic for over 9,500 y, and this tight link between people and dogs continues in Siberian communities. Although Arctic Siberian groups such as the Nenets received limited gene flow from neighboring groups, archaeological evidence suggests that metallurgy and new subsistence strategies emerged in Nor...

Beglane, F. 2021. Preliminary report on excavation at Disert, Co. Donegal DG084-001. Licence No. 19E0150 (Extension). Unpublished report for the National Monuments Service.

Beglane, F. 2021. Preliminary report on excavation licence no 17E0317 (Extension) at Staad, Agharrow, Co. Sligo. SL005-193 and SL005-022. Unpublished report for the National Monuments Service.

The occurrence of animal remains in human mortuary assemblages presents problems of interpretation. Are they post-depositional natural inclusions or are they evidence of deliberate ritual practices? This study uses a contextual taphonomic approach to analyse a remarkable faunal assemblage from a Neolithic megalithic tomb in Ireland. The Parknabinni...

This research note introduces the methodology of the FoodCult Project, with the aim of stimulating discussion regarding the interdisciplinary potential for historical food studies. The project represents the first major attempt to establish both the fundamentals of everyday diet, and the cultural ‘meaning’ of food and drink in early modern Ireland,...

Archaeological excavation of a natural boulder chamber on the upper slopes of Bengorm Mountain, County Mayo, in the north‐west of Ireland revealed evidence for complex Neolithic funerary rituals spanning several centuries. With virtually no subsequent evidence of animal or human disturbance, the site presents an exceptional insight into well‐preser...

Dowd, M., Beglane, F., Bonsall, J., Markley, S., Moore, S. and Read, C. 2020. The past in the present: archaeology at IT Sligo. In J. Moran (ed.) Of what is past, or passing, or to come. Institute of Technology, Sligo: fifty years. An Leathchéad., 122-129. IT Sligo, Sligo.

Beglane, F. and O'Sullivan, J., 2020. A vanishing medieval church site on Ireland’s Atlantic coast: a longitudinal study of coastal erosion at Staad Abbey, Co. Sligo, 1837–2020, Journal of Irish Archaeology. 29, 177-189.

This study investigates the nature of diet in a predominantly Late Medieval Gaelic Irish skeletal population and explores whether any sex-based and/or age differences were evident in the population. A smaller sub-sample was also examined to determine whether there was any evidence for dietary change over time between the Early Medieval (c.700–c.120...

Anne Rowe. Tudor and Early Stuart Parks of Hertfordshire. Hatfield: University of Hertfordshire Press, 2019. Pp. 304. $39.95 (paper). - Volume 59 Issue 2 - Fiona Beglane

Beglane, F. 2019. ‘Preliminary inspection report on faunal material, Newgrange Farm, Co. Meath’. In Leigh, J., Stout, G and Stout M. ‘Report on the research excavation at Newgrange Farm 2018’. Riocht na Mide 20, 15-51.

Beglane, F. 2019. ‘The medieval park at Carrick.’ in Shine, D., Potterton, M., Mandal, S. and McLoughlin, C, Carrick, County Wexford: Ireland's first Anglo-Norman stronghold. Dublin: Four Courts Press. 151-162.

Beglane, F. 2019. Preliminary report on excavation at Disert, Co. Donegal DG084-001. Licence No. 19E0150. Unpublished report for the National Monuments Service.

Cite as: Beglane, F., Bonsall, J., Nugent, L., Moran, J. & Meehan, H. 2018. ‘An oasis in the desert: the early ecclesiastical site of Disert, Co. Donegal’. Journal of Irish Archaeology, Volume XXVII, Wordwell, Dublin, pp57-79. This paper presents the results of an ongoing interdisciplinary project to investigate the archaeological, natural and cul...

Beglane, F. 2018. Interpreting the archaeological complex of Disert, Co. Donegal, 2018. Project CH07526. Unpublished report for the Heritage Council.

Beglane, F. 2018. Conservation measures for the archaeological complex of Disert, Co. Donegal, 2017. Project CH06649. Unpublished report for the Heritage Council.

Beglane, F 2018, 'The faunal remains', in Lynch, A, 'Excavations at Moor Abbey, Co. Tipperary'. North Munster Antiquarian Journal. 58: 66.

Beglane, F. 2018. ‘Lost and rarely (if ever) found: exotic species in Ireland’ in Fenwick J., Lost-and-Found III: rediscovering more of Ireland’s past. Wordwell. Dublin. 17-24.

Beglane, F. 2018. ‘Landscape, layout and lordship in medieval Maynooth, Ireland’. Château Gaillard. 28, 27-34.

Beglane, F., Burke, J., Meehan, G., Meehan, H., Meehan, R. and Ward, M. 2018. Disert in the Blue Stacks. Disert Heritage Project. Donegal.

Beglane, F. 2018. Final report on excavation licence no 17E0317 at Staad, Agharrow, Co. Sligo. SL005-193 and SL005-022. Unpublished report for National Monuments Service.

The Anglo-Normans first introduced fallow deer (Dama dama) to Ireland in the thirteenth century, however no biomolecular research has previously been undertaken to examine the timing, circumstances and impact of the arrival of this species. This study combines historical, zooarchaeological, genetic and isotopic data from both medieval and post-medi...

Humans have always affected their ecosystems, but finding evidence for significant and lasting changes to preindustrial landscapes is rare. We report on human-caused changes to the nitrogen cycle in Ireland in the Bronze Age, associated with intensification of agriculture and animal husbandry that resulted in long-term changes to the nitrogen isoto...

Beglane, F. 2018 [2017]. Editorial. Journal of Irish Archaeology, 26: v.

Irish forests and chases have been largely ignored by medievalists. Alongside parks and warrens, these were landscapes within which the elite sought to control not only access to hunting, but also to timber and woodland resources. The aim of this paper is to collate and review the evidence for forests and chases in Ireland in the period 1169–c.1399...

Beglane, F. 2017. Final report on licenced monitoring at Disert, Co. Donegal DG084-001 and environs: 17E0189. Unpublished report for the National Monuments Service.

Beglane, F. 2017 [2016]. Editorial. Journal of Irish Archaeology, 25: v.

Meehan, H., Beglane, F., and Nugent, L. 2017. ’Carnaween and Disert in the Blue Stacks’ in The Spark: border counties local history review.37-40.

This paper will discuss the animal bones found during excavation at Townparks South, Trim, Co. Meath, Ireland. Excavation of the suburban burgage plots outside the medieval town walls of Trim unearthed a medieval and post-medieval animal bone assemblage including waste from butchery, food and craftworking. There was evidence for the husbandry of li...

Moore, S. and Beglane, F. 2017. ‘Introduction’ in Beglane, F. Gatherings: past and present. Oxford: BAR International Series. 1-11.

Beglane, F. (ed.) 2017. Gatherings: past and present. Oxford: BAR International Series, no. 2832.

Beglane, F. 2016. Final report on licenced monitoring and excavation at the Diamond, Donegal Town: 14E0462. Unpublished report for the National Monuments Service.

Beglane, F., Meehan, H. and Nugent, L. 2016. Conservation Management Plan for the Ecclesiastical Enclosure and Pilgrim Landscape of Disert, Inver Parish, Co Donegal. Unpublished report prepared for the Heritage Council.

Beglane, F. 2016. Book review: of Jacqueline Cahill Wilson, Ger Dowling, Michael Ann Bevivino and Philippa Barry (eds) Late Iron Age and “Roman” Ireland. Discovery Programme Reports 8. Wordwell. Dublin. 2014. Eolas 9: 116-118.

Beglane, F. 2016. ‘Mammalian faunal remains’ in Dowd, M. Moneen Cave, Oxford: Archaeopress. 19-24.

Beglane, F. 2016. 'Bone artifacts', in Stout, G & Stout, M, eds. The Bective Abbey Project: Archaeological Excavations 2009–12. Dublin: Wordwell, 73-76.

Beglane, F. 2016. 'Human bone data', in Stout, G & Stout, M, eds. The Bective Abbey Project: Archaeological Excavations 2009–12. Dublin: Wordwell, 79.

Beglane, F. 2016. 'The faunal remains', in Stout, G & Stout, M, eds. The Bective Abbey Project: Archaeological Excavations 2009–12. Dublin: Wordwell, 106-153.

Beglane, F. 2016. 'The social significance of game in the diet of later medieval Ireland'. in FitzPatrick, E and Kelly, J. Food and Drink in Ireland. Dublin: Royal Irish Academy. 167-196. and see Beglane, F. 2015. ‘The social significance of game in the diet of later medieval Ireland’. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 115C: 167-96. for...

Beglane, F. 2016. ‘Prehistoric perforated and worked animal teeth’ in Dowd, M. Underground archaeology: studies on human bones and artefacts from Ireland’s caves. Oxford: Oxbow Books. 120-127.

Beglane, F. 2016. 'Faunal remains' in Manning, C. 'Excavations at Cahergal, Co. Kerry: A Venue for Royal Ceremony in Early Medieval Corcu Duibne'. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section C: Archaeology, Celtic Studies,History, Linguistics, Literature, 116C,121-188. https://doi.org/10.3318/priac.2016.116.08

Beglane, F. 2015. ‘The medieval park at Maynooth.’ Journal of the County Kildare Archaeological Society, 20(IV): 56-70.

Beglane, F. 2015. ‘Behind stone walls in Loughrea.’ Archaeology Ireland, 29(2): 33-6.

Beglane, F. 2015. ‘Deer Parks: lost medieval monuments of the Irish countryside’ in McAlister, V and Barry, T. Space and Settlement in the Middle Ages. Four Courts Press, Dublin. 151-166.

Beglane, F. 2015. Anglo-Norman parks in medieval Ireland: 1169-c.1350. Four Courts Press, Dublin.

The identification of cattle breeds without a modern reference collection is a challenging task when conducting zooarchaeological studies. This preliminary study was carried out on modern Hungarian Grey and Charolais cattle to establish a methodology for a larger study and to investigate shape and size differences of metacarpal and metatarsal bones...

While the vast majority of the meat consumed in later medieval Ireland (c. 1100-1600) was from domesticates such as cattle, sheep and pig, the hunting of game was important as a social marker. Access to game varied depending on social status, occupation and geographical location, and could be used to mediate social relationships. This paper focuses...

THIS PAPER EXAMINES the archaeological and historical evidence for a 13th-century park at Earlspark, Loughrea, Co Galway. This is the first detailed study of an Irish Anglo-Norman-period park to be published, and the site, which lies c 2 km south-east of the town of Loughrea, is exceptionally well preserved. It is documented in 1333, along with its...

Beglane, F. 2013. ‘Report on Faunal Material from Garrynacole: Licence No. 03E1375’ in K. Hanley and M.F. Hurley, eds. Generations: the archaeology of five national roadschemes in County Cork. Dublin: Wordwell. On CD and 10.7486/DRI.z6044c29v

Beglane, F. 2013. ‘Report on Faunal Material from Lisnagar Demesne 1: Licence No. 03E1510’ in K. Hanley and M.F. Hurley, eds. Generations: the archaeology of five national roadschemes in County Cork. Dublin: Wordwell. On CD and 10.7486/DRI.0v83nf46j.

Beglane, F. 2013-2014. ‘The faunal material’ in Ó Baoill, R., Beglane, F. Heslip, R., Macdonald, P., McSparron, C. and Sloan, B. 'Excavation of a Multi-period Ecclesiastical Site at Aghavea, County Fermanagh', Ulster Journal of Archaeology. 72: 112-141.

Beglane, F. 2013. ‘Report on Faunal Material from Mondaniel 3: Licence No. 03E1094’ in K. Hanley and M.F. Hurley, eds. Generations: the archaeology of five national roadschemes in County Cork. On CD. Dublin: Wordwell. On CD and 10.7486/DRI.x346sk057.

Beglane, F. 2012. ‘Bone Artefacts’, in Foley C. and C. Donnelly Parke's Castle, Co. Leitrim: Archaeology, History and Architecture. DAHG: Archaeological Monograph Series No. 7. Dublin. 101-102.

This paper reviews evidence for the rare condition of porcine syndactyly. It describes eight archaeological examples from Britain, Northern Ireland and France. Syndactyly refers to the partial or complete fusion of two or more adjacent phalanges on the medio-lateral border. The degree and character of fusion are variable, but phalanges frequently u...

Beglane, F. 2012. Report on N56 Cloghbolie-Boyoughter Road Improvement Scheme Stage (i) Test Excavations and Monitoring. Unpublished report for the National Monuments Service.

Beglane, F. 2012. 'Animal Bone', in Foley, C and C. Donnelly Parke's Castle, Co. Leitrim: Archaeology, History and Architecture. DAHG: Archaeological Monograph Series No. 7. Dublin. 109-120.

Beglane, F. 2011. Archaeological assessment of development at Ardeskin, Co. Donegal. Planning Ref: 10/20394. Unpublished report for Donegal County Council.

Beglane, F. 2010. ‘Deer and Identity in Medieval Ireland’ in Kucera, M. and G-K. Kunst, eds. Bestial Mirrors: Animals as material culture in the Middle Ages - 3: Using animals to construct human identities in Medieval Europe. Vienna Institute for Archaeological Science. Vienna. 77-84.

Beglane, F. 2010. ‘Deer in medieval Ireland: Preliminary evidence from Kilteasheen, Co. Roscommon’ in Finan, T. Medieval Lough Ce: History, Archaeology and Landscape Four Courts Press. Dublin. 145-158.

Beglane, F. 2010 ‘Appendix IX: Analysis of faunal material’ in Gillespie, R.F. and A. Kerrigan. Of troughs and tuyères: The archaeology of the N5 Charlestown Bypass. NRA Scheme Monographs. On CD.

Archaeologically monitored excavations in the Grassmarket, Edinburgh uncovered diverse remains dating from prehistory to the First World War. The stratigraphic sequence included pits created in the middle of the Bronze Age, Early Historic features and deposits, a series of medieval surfaces, a section of the Flodden Wall and post-medieval building...

Beglane, F. 2009. Final report on monitoring of development at Magheracar, Bundoran, Co. Donegal. Planning Ref: 06/20875. Unpublished report for Donegal County Council.

Beglane, F. 2009. ‘Appendix D: Report on mammalian and molluscan faunal material from Drumadoon, Co. Antrim’ in McSparron, C and Williams B. ‘The excavation of an Early Christian rath with later medieval occupation at Drumadoon, Co. Antrim’. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 109C, A13 – A29. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40657910.

Beglane F. 2009. ‘Long pig’s feet from Iron Age Trim’ in Potterton M. and M. Seaver Uncovering Medieval Trim - Archaeological Excavations in and around Trim Co. Meath. Four Courts Press. Dublin. 57-71.

Beglane F. 2009. ‘Meat and craft in medieval and post-medieval Trim’ in Potterton M. and M. Seaver. Uncovering Medieval Trim - Archaeological Excavations in and around Trim Co. Meath. Four Courts Press. Dublin. 346-370.

Beglane, F. 2007. ‘Report on Faunal Material from Sligo Inner Relief Road Site 2B: Licence No. 03E0536’ in Danaher, E. Monumental Beginnings: The archaeology of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road. NRA Scheme Monographs 1. Wordwell, Dublin. On CD and 10.7486/DRI.1c18sw54n. OPEN ACCESS

Beglane, F. 2005. ‘The faunal material’ in Ó Baoill, R., ‘Excavations at Newtownstewart Castle, County Tyrone’. Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 64: 95-102.

Beglane, F. 2005. ‘The faunal remains from Gordon Street’ in Ó Baoill, R. ‘Excavations at Gordon Street and Waring Street, Belfast’. Ulster Journal of Archaeology, 64: 128-133.