Archaeologists from Rubicon Archaeology have uncovered two Early Neolithic houses dating between 3600 and 3700 BC at Cappagh Quarry near Dungarvan, County Waterford. These ancient dwellings pre-date the famous Newgrange monument by several centuries, Stonehenge by over 500 years, and the Great Pyramid of Giza by roughly 1,200 years. The significant excavation also revealed Bronze Age cremation burials, prehistoric pottery, and ancient stone tools.
Key finds include a polished stone axe likely left as a ritual offering, and another sourced from Cumbria, England, pointing to early cross-channel trade routes. The excavation offers crucial insights into Neolithic life in the Dungarvan area.
A public exhibition of the artifacts will be held at Dungarvan Shopping Centre from August 15th-23rd during National Heritage Week, accompanied by a public lecture by archaeologist Gillian McCarthy on August 19th.