Provided by the author(s) and University College Dublin Library in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite the published version when available. Title Coleoptera Authors(s) Reilly, Eileen Publication date 2005 Publication information Gowen, M., O'Neill, J., and Phillips, M. (eds.). The Lisheen Mine Archaeological Project 1996-8 Publisher Wordwell Ltd. Link to online version http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lisheen-Mine-Archaeological-Project-1996-8/dp/1869857836; http://www.wordwellbooks.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=1322&category_id=26&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=9 Item record/more information http://hdl.handle.net/10197/5547 Downloaded 2021-09-27T01:43:34Z The UCD community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you. Your story matters! (@ucd_oa) © Some rights reserved. For more information, please see the item record link above. 8. Coleoptera Eileen Reilly Background some of the most significant finds of this project and have important implications for the history of the Irish forest Introduction fauna relict. This chapter looks at samples taken for insect analysis at The results will be looked at in terms of the local various sites throughout Derryville Bog. The analysis of environment, drawing on information from clusters of insect remains, particularly Coleoptera (beetles) which structures sampled on different sides of the bog. They will be the main focus of this chapter, and their use in will also be examined in terms of overall landscape environmental reconstruction is relatively new in Ireland changes in three areas: woodland, wetland and dryland but has had a long and distinguished history in Britain usage—pasture and cultivation. and parts of Europe. Methodology In order to recover insect remains a certain degree of waterlogging and organic build-up must be present. The samples ranged in size from 1 litre to 6 litres (all Obviously, a wetland setting has both in abundance and, samples over 3 litres were sub-sampled) and were in addition, the interference of humans creates artificial processed at the Killoran House facility during the habitat niches that insects exploit and from which they excavation season. They were processed using the are subsequently recovered. paraffin flotation method outlined by Coope and The archaeological structures sampled range in age Osborne (1967) and expanded by Kenward (1980). The from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, however, the time flots were then sorted in alcohol using a low-powered periods covered, in particular by column sampling, binocular microscope and the extracted remains identi- encompassed a much wider time frame. It was hoped that fied using the usual range of keys (see bibliography) by varying the sampling strategy, both micro and macro- and the Gorham and Girling Coleoptera Collections at environmental changes would be highlighted. Birmingham University (with help from Dr. David Smith). One species (Rhyncolus ater Linn.) was sent to Sampling strategy Dr Nicki Whitehouse, Department of Archaeology and Vertical columns of samples in one area were taken to Prehistory, Sheffield University (now of Queen’s present a picture of changes through time in the University, Belfast) for confirmation of identification. Coleoptera and whether the presence of an archaeologi- The species lists (Tables 1–10, additional files) are cal structure changed that faunal variety. These profiles given in taxonomic order according to the revised lists can pick up natural occurrences such as flooding of British (Kloet and Hincks 1977) and Irish Coleoptera episodes, bog bursts and dry episodes. (Anderson et al. 1997). Site-specific sampling involved a block of peat taken Explanatory note on the habitat data and the underneath a structure, at the same level as the structure (usually incorporating some wood from the structure) figures and immediately above a structure. This type of sam- The specific habitat information given in Tables 1–10 pling is used to create a picture of the immediate envi- (see additional files), is adapted from Robinson (1991) ronment often helping to understand why a structure was and every sample taken has been analysed according to sited where it was, the community of species which this information. The key is as follows: exploited the site (including importations) and the A: aquatic; B: bankside/waters edge; C: carrion; D: changes that occurred in that environment when the disturbed or bare ground; F: foul (dung); G: grassland; structure went out of use. M: marsh (fen/bog); T: terrestrial, occurring in a variety Spot sampling, or subjective sampling, is also very of habitats; V: decaying plant matter and W: woodland or important where something of interest is uncovered but trees. The specific habitats are then generalised into gen- the area is not conducive to profile sampling or site-spe- eral habitats and presented in bar charts for each site cific sampling, and where they can be closely linked, both (Figs 8.1–8.4 and 8.6–8.12) throughout the text. These stratigraphically and through dating, to a particular struc- are (i) aquatic; (ii) dung/rotting vegetation; (iii) dead ture or activity. This has certainly proved to be the case wood; (iv) marsh/bog/aquatic plants; (v) trees/carr wood- with samples from Derryfadda 23 which have produced land and (vi) terrestrial/pasture. Species are assigned to 187 The Lisheen Mine Archaeological Project 1996–8 the most appropriate general grouping, i.e. if a species levels. This sample was looked at from the earliest lay- normally occurs in a marsh environment then it is ers to the most recent (bog surface) and the habitat data assigned to the marsh/bog/aquatic plants group. Habitat is presented in Fig. 8.1. The species list is in Appendix data was gleaned from BUGS Ecology database 1A, Table 1 of the additional files. (Buckland et al. 1996) and various keys and written The transition layer between the original mineral soil sources (see bibliography). layer and the development of the fen peat (124.48m OD) A number of references will be made to the status of above had no discernible insect remains of any type, indi- species as they are recorded in the British Red Data cating a low organic content and a relatively dry layer Books: 2. Insects (Shirt 1987). This Red Data Book compared to those above. (RDB) is a catalogue of all the rare, vulnerable and Moving up through the column, a more typical fen extinct insect species in Britain. The list of Coleoptera in fauna was identified (sample 6). The aquatics, this catalogue has since been updated by Hyman (1992; Hydroporus angustatus and Graphodytes sp., indicate 1994), with additional notes on current distribution and peaty pools of acid water, while Ochthebius sp. and known ecology. Various categories are given including Hydreana sp. are indicative of stands of fresher water. Notable B (a species found in a restricted number of loca- Paracymus scutellaris and Hydrobius fuscipes are found tions in Britain), Rare, Local (restricted in its choice of in shallow acid waters. All these species taken together habitat) etc. This kind of catalogue is not available for indicate the beginning of the development of the fen. beetles in Ireland, so variations may occur in the status of Phylopertha horticola, however, is indicative of the certain species in Britain and Ireland (M. Morris, pers. nearby drier land, possibly pasture land. P. horticola is a comm.). Where Irish data is available for the status and pest on many types of bushes and at the roots of grasses, distribution of species today, they will be referred to. clover and cereals. It usually infests poor quality pasture, However, for any species that is not on the current Irish often on slopes of hilly areas where there is high rainfall. list (Anderson et al. 1997), Hyman's (1992; 1994) study As this species is present in most of the samples from this is the best method of gauging their current distribution site it can be assumed that it was fairly common through- and status in our nearest neighbour. out the local pasture land and that there was a constant presence of such land nearby. The numbers of individuals The local environment overall is low and this is probably due to the high silt con- tent. This layer seems to represent the interface between Eastern bog margin the original drier land, at this point, with its sparse wood- land and the inundation of that land, which resulted in the Column samples—Neolithic to Iron Age inception of the fen proper in this area. A number of column samples were taken through struc- A maturing of the fen is represented from (sample 5) tures in this southeastern cluster covering long periods 124.83–124.98m OD by an increase in insect numbers of time. A vertical column in the drain face on the east and variety, probably Early to Middle Bronze Age in side of Field 46 to mineral soil, incorporating date. The wood remains are most likely roots and indicate Derryfadda 13a, was taken. This site has a date of a bog-edge forest that is fairly well represented in the 767–412 BC but the column may start in late Neolithic species present. However, also well represented are 125.40m 125.27m Derryfadda 13 terrestrial/pasture 125.15m trees/carr woodland marsh/bog/aquatic plants 121.98m dead wood 124.83m dung/rotting vegetation sample no. / level OD aquatic 124.63m 7654321 124.48m 0 1020304050 number of individual taxa Fig. 8.1 Habitat data from column of samples taken through Derryfadda 13a, Field 46. 188 Coleoptera pool/bank-side species and drier, pasture species. A small the Irish record. Also, detailed studies of the pockets of number of species occur in rotting and decaying vegeta- ancient woodland which still exist have not been carried tion but may also indicate dung, carrion and other fouler out and could possibly produce examples of some of habitats.