While listening … am washing cave bones from our July excavation… holding a partial ulna (front leg) bone in my hands of an Ice Age Spotted Hyena (the larger ancestor to modern spotted hyena in Africa). Yes, Ireland has these top predators/scavengers some 40,000 years ago! #PALAEOIreland 🏺

Finally can say our @researchireland.ie COALESCE funded project (coming up to half way through now), joint project between @ucddublin.bsky.social & ATU Galway & lots of collaborators, including Dr Richard Jennings @ljmuofficial.bsky.social & 14CHRONO

Our PALAEO-IRELAND project! 🏺

#PalaeoIreland

Day 4

“All by myself …”🎶🎤

Everyone working hard in the cave in various areas…

A few bear and reindeer bones coming out today…

#Castlepookcave #CSG #PALAEOIreland #IrishCaveBones
#cavearchaeology
@ria.ie
@researchireland.ie
🏺

Day 4, after the fog lifted, a glorious morning outside the cave… meant to get to around 25C this afternoon. I shall be retreating into the cave for awhile.

Digging and excavating continues inside …

#castlepookcave #CSG #PALAEOIreland #IrishCaveBones
@ria.ie

Day 3 … bones coming out today including brown bear and below, a reindeer distal humerus (front leg).

Sun blazing from the blue sky!

#Castlepookcaveproject
#PALAEOIreland
#CSG #cavearchaeology
#IrishCaveBones #IrishArchaeology
🏺
@ria.ie @researchireland.ie @ucddublin.bsky.social

End of Day 2 & we found some reindeer and hare teeth and bones.

A good day at Castlepook cave, Co. Cork funded research archaeological excavation.

#PALAEOIreland

@ria.ie
@ucddublin.bsky.social

Day 2 current view …

The rain and high humidity this morning gave way to a glorious afternoon with a cooler breeze.

Castlepook cave research archaeological excavation 2025, funded by @ria.ie

#PALAEOIreland
#IrishCaveBones

Day 2 at Castlepook Cave a research excavation 2025. Primarily funded by @ria.ie

Team in great spirits & eager to work. Finding some bones in sediment already yesterday evening & this morning.

We have Dr Mike Simms, Ulster Museum with us for a few days - the cave whisperer!

#PALAEOIreland

And we’re back!

Castlepook cave project 2025 archaeological research excavation - funded by @ria.ie in collaboration with CSG caving members & supported by @researchireland.ie #PALAEOIreland project.

I beat my fears & got into the first few chambers for first time with CSG caver Mark! 😊
1/n

a cartoon of a man in a cave with the words " come on " above him ALT: a cartoon of a man in a cave with the words " come on " above him

We are supported in the cave by the amazing cavers of the Cork Speleological Group, and members of Irish Cave Rescue. Our ongoing collaboration continues and we are all in safe hands!

We will have many partners and collaborators on site with us.

#IrishArchaeology #cavingIreland #PalaeoIreland

a woman wearing a red hat is asking is that weird ALT: a woman wearing a red hat is asking is that weird

I love the smell of cave dirt - each cave has a different smell I’m finding and I’m here for it all!

#palaeoireland
#zooarchaeology #bones
#cavearchaeology
#dirt

The different colours of cave bone washing water … early to end ….

Like coffee but not coffee!

Speaking of coffee… time to make some!

#cavearchaeology #irisharchaeology
#irishcavebones
#bones
#zooarchaeology
#palaeoireland
#postex

First look into the box of ‘fresh’ cave bones …..

Oooooooooooo 😯

#IrishArchaeology #PalaeoIreland #bones #cavearchaeology #caves #archaeology

Our collaborative team of cave archaeologists & Cork Speleological Group / Irish Cave Rescue Stan Drapala, had a very fruitful excavation week, funded by @researchireland.ie
After a 10hr drive, I have the bones & sediment for wet sieving. Post-ex work will be fun! New discoveries! #PalaeoIreland 🏺

Delighted and grateful to receive a @heritagecouncil.ie Cork County Council Heritage Scheme 2025 grant, towards radiocarbon dating Castlepook cave animal bones, we excavated last April 2024.
🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴
Can’t wait for results! #PalaeoIreland
@ucdarchaeology.bsky.social @shrewgod.bsky.social

Animal bone fragments, covered in cave mud, in a clear plastic bag

A bag with label written on it saying Ballynamintra cave surface finds in entrance chamber. The bag contains animal bones covered in cave mud, which is a dark brown colour

When you go searching in interim office since moving for something & finding things that got misplaced during the move …. and before!

Found some more bones from Castlepook cave research excavation April 2024 and Ballynamintra cave too. Need to be washed tomorrow. #IrishCaveBones #PalaeoIreland

A adult brown bear phalanx or toe bone, from the Pleistocene period. Being held in my hand (I take a medium sized nitrile glove), along with a 5cm scale bar. The toe bone measures approximately 4.5cm long. Dainty toes - not! From our research excavation last April 2024 in Castlepook cave, County Cork, Ireland. Funded by the Royal Irish Academy, Irish Research Council and NSERC, Canada.

Quickly going through some cave bones we excavated last April at Castlepook cave, Ireland. Funded by the Royal Irish Academy, Irish Research Council & NSERC, Canada.
adult brown bear phalanx (toe bone), from somewhere in past 50,000 years! #IrishCaveBones #PalaeoIreland 🏺