There are several hypotheses about the origins of the first Neolithic settlers in Ireland, but most of these contain problems. F

There are several hypotheses about the origins of the first Neolithic settlers in Ireland, but most of these contain problems. For instance, there are(26)considerable archaeological difficulties about the theory that they came from England. The evidence doesn’ t really add up. But there are even greater practical problems about the theory that they came directly from continental Europe. For one thing, it’s not clear just how(27)sufficient numbers of men and women could have been transported to Ireland to establish a viable population. As you know, the(28)hunter-gatherer economy which existed beforehand was based on small scattered groups. The farming economy would almost certainly have required much larger communities to do all the work needed to plant and tend sufficient crops to(29)sustain them through the year.
    The early farmers kept various animals, including cattle and sheep. There’s also evidence of pigs, but it is possible that these could have been(30)descended from the native wild species. Now, we know from modern farming that if the level of breeding stock falls(31)below about three hundred females, the future of the species locally is(32)at risk. So we must assume that from the beginnings of Neolithic farming the number of breeding sheep would have considerably(33)exceeded three hundred, and the national cattle herd must have been of a similar size. The question is how these were brought to the area and where they came from.
    It’ s usually suggested that the Neolithic settlers used skin-covered boats to transport livestock. But this method would have severely restricted the range of the colonising(34)fleets. The sheer volume of animal transport necessary means it’ s(35)unlikely that this livestock could have been brought from anywhere further than England.