MOUNTAIN LOG NEWS 12 Earth’s crust 405 million years ago. In time, that made the Glendalough, Glendasan and Glenmalure valleys Ireland’s most important area for lead mining. Incidentally, what is referred to as the ‘Miners Village’ is an area of former mine buildings, not where the miners lived. Coming towards the view across to St Kevin’s Bed and Teampall na Skellig, Graeme asked us what we thought was the most common monument in the Glendalough valley? Not churches, it’s actually charcoal production platforms, with more than 100 of these recorded in the valley, mostly dating from the 1700s. Trees were felled and burnt under controlled conditions to produce charcoal for export to Britain for use in iron smelting. Near the upper lake we looked at two cairns adorned with cross slabs that date from the 7th or 8th century. Recent archaeological excavation of one of the cairns discovered a pint glass and cigarette butts, showing that the cairn had been completely rebuilt in the mid-20th century. Reflecting on human interaction with upland landscapes over time, we looked to the future and the potential to focus people’s increased appetite for hiking and nature connection into advocacy for a positive vision for the future of Ireland’s mountains. In the wrap-up discussion, people said they enjoyed the diversity of topics covered over the weekend, the fact that no specific knowledge was needed Pictured this page: Four of the guides on the weekend, from left: Anthea Lacchia, John Cromie, Alan Lauder and Hugh McLindon. Photo: Helen Lawless
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