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

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

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

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 🏺

The final lot of photos from our funded research cave excavation at Castlepook cave, Co. Cork, Ireland, last April 2024. The amazing team and essential equipment! Thanks to Royal Irish Academy & Irish Research Council grants. 🏺
#IrishCaveBones #IrishArchaeology #CaveArchaeology
#IrishPalaeolithic