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The skeletal remains of a wildcat, found in the Burren, Co. Clare, have been radiocarbon dated to c.3600 BC, providing the first concrete evidence that this species, now-extinct in Ireland, was present during the Neolithic period.
A total of 39 bones from an adult wildcat were recovered from Glencurran Cave during excavations at the site between 2004 and 2009 (below), which were led by Dr Marion Dowd from the Atlantic Technological University (ATU). Although the remains were disarticulated, indicating that they had been disturbed at some time, their discrete concentration, along with the absence of any butchery- or teeth-marks, suggests that the animal had died in the cave.
The bones represent the first prehistoric cat remains from Ireland to have been scientifically dated, and they have since formed part of a larger research project looking at ancient wildcat DNA from across Europe, led by Professor Claudio Ottoni and his team from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. This subsequent analysis found that the remains came from a European wildcat (Felis silvestris), which is distinct from both modern domestic cats (Felis catus) and Near Eastern wildcats (Felis lybica lybica). DNA also revealed that this Irish example was male, and belonged to a specific lineage that is most closely related to wildcats from Italy and Spain, rather than the modern Scottish population.
While small numbers of cat bones have been found at other prehistoric sites across Ireland, including the Mesolithic site of Lough Boora in Co. Offaly and the Neolithic passage tomb of Newgrange in Co. Meath, without scientific dating the possibility had remained that their bones represented later intrusions to the sites.
Commenting on the results, Marion said: ‘This discovery finally gives us solid evidence that wildcats were here in the Neolithic. The ancient DNA results were especially exciting. To see this Irish wildcat grouping with animals from southern Europe tells us it belonged to a much older, wilder lineage than our domestic cats today.’
The question still remains about when and how these animals first appeared in Ireland. Were they brought over by the first farmers during the Neolithic period, or were they introduced even earlier, possibly during the Mesolithic? And once there, how long did these cats survive before they became extinct? Hopefully future research into other cat remains found across Ireland will be able to help answer these questions.
Text: Kathryn Krakowka / Image: Ken Williams
