Céide Fields

an important Neolithic archaeological site in the northwest of Ireland

Discovery

• In the 1930s, a local teacher realised that stones beneath the bog surface were once 31.
• His 32. became an archaeologist and undertook an investigation of the site:
  • a traditional method used by local people to dig for 33. was used to identify where stones were located
  • carbon dating later proved the site was Neolithic.
• Items are well preserved in the bog because of a lack of 34.

Neolithic farmers

• Houses were 35. in shape and had a hole in the roof.
• Neolithic innovations include:
  • cooking indoors
  • pots used for storage and to make 36.
• Each field at Céide was large enough to support a big 37.
• The fields were probably used to restrict the grazing of animals - no evidence of structures to house them during 38.

Reasons for the decline in farming

• a decline in 39. quality
• an increase in 40.