This volume presents the results of archaeological excavations conducted during the construction of the Bord Gáis Éireann Gas Pipeline to the West and offers an assessment of particular aspects of the discoveries made.

The structure and focus of the volume were determined by the nature of the excavation results. As the project progressed on site, the findings suggested that there might be an opportunity for a synthesised examination of aspects of the archaeological and environmental evidence. It was felt that such an approach could add value to the results of the excavations and throw new light on Bronze Age studies and on the study of Bronze Age landscapes in particular.

The research and analysis presented in this volume are based on the excavation reports prepared by the project’s excavation directors. The analysis was based on the excavation results, an assessment of the dating programme, the spatial distribution of sites and a significant study of the environmental data undertaken by the project’s environmental archaeologists. In addition, the focus of the analysis and its outcome were guided by round-table workshops with the site directors and the specialists involved, and these contributed significantly to the overall thematic basis for the volume.

Summary reports for every site excavated during the project, including the results of specialist analysis and dating, are presented, together with plans, in the Inventory (Section II) at the back of the volume: the original site code numbers are retained here for clarity and are presented in bold throughout the text.