The first directly dated wildcat bones found in Ireland have been identified, confirming that the species inhabited the island more than 5,500 years ago.
Archaeologist Dr Marion Dowd of Atlantic Technological University made the discovery in Glencurran Cave in the Burren, Co Clare
Until recently, none of Ireland's prehistoric cat remains had been radiocarbon dated, leaving uncertainty over whether earlier finds were wildcats or domestic arrivals.
Radiocarbon dating conducted at Queen's University Belfast confirmed the remains of the species, extinct in Ireland, are more than 5,500 years old, dating to the Middle Neolithic period.
Dr Dowd discovered 39 bones belonging to an adult wildcat that were subsequently identified by zoo archaeologist Margaret McCarthy.
Ancient DNA analysis at the University of Rome Tor Vergata confirmed the animal was a male European wildcat, distinct from modern domestic cats and Near Eastern wildcats.
Dr Dowd said the breakthrough "transforms what we thought we knew about Ireland’s ancient wildlife".
"It’s important for us to build-up a database of the animals that once existed in the Irish landscape that have now become extinct.
"It joins bears, wolves and other animals that would’ve been a core part of the Irish ecosystem and landscape 5,000 years ago," Dr Dowd said.
Archaeologist James Kyle said Dr Dowd’s work is hugely significant as it pushes back the date range for this animal in Ireland at least 4,000 years.
"It’s the kind of thing that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. It answers a lot of questions, but it also poses a lot of questions in terms of the biodiversity of Ireland in the past.
"This is the first time we can say with certainty that European wildcats lived in prehistoric Ireland," Dr Dowd said.
Small numbers of cat bones were previously found on prehistoric sites, including the Mesolithic site of Lough Boora, Co Offaly and the Neolithic passage tomb of Newgrange, Co Meath.
Dr Dowd said that without radiocarbon dating, it was impossible to confirm the age or species of the previous archaeological discoveries.
Wildcats were once widespread across Europe but declined sharply from the 1700s due to habitat loss, hunting, and competition with domestic cats.
Archaeologist Adam Collins said the finding opens up the diversity of animals that were in Ireland during the early Neolithic period.
"I think it’s only going to get better between the scientific techniques and the opportunities that are available.
"We’re going to see a lot more of this type of work being done and hopefully painting a much clearer picture of our past," Mr Collins said.
Wildcat populations remain in Scotland and in Iberia, however, numbers of the legally protected continue to decline primarily through roadkill, poaching and habitat loss.
As the domestic cat population grew, wildcat numbers plummeted. Although similar in size and appearance to domestic cats, they are a different species.
Dr Dowd has said further radiocarbon dating and genetic analysis of discoveries from prehistoric and medieval sites would help in understanding our past.
"We’re interested in establishing when did wildcat become extinct. We don’t know the answer to that, only further analysis will determine the answer.
"It’s important because we want to understand the past landscapes in prehistoric Ireland; the animals that lived in those landscapes and the types of ecosystems," he said.
Dr Dowd’s findings have been published in a co-authored paper recently published in the Journal of Irish Archaeology.
