A mining trail which gives glimpses into 4,500 years of copper mining in Ireland opened at the weekend at Ross Island in Killarney, Co Kerry.
The site, part of the Killarney National Park, was recently found to contain the earliest known copper mines in north western Europe.
Until a study was carried out by the Department of Archaeology at University College Galway, the mines were commonly held to be 300 years old.
However, 10 years of excavation of the Ross site, alongside the castle of the same name, has come up with clear evidence that these were the country's, and north western Europe's, earliest known working metal mines.
Some of the earliest copper instruments and tools used in Ireland - now in the National Museum - were probably made from copper mined there.
Copper, iron, lead and silver were mined in Killarney. A large prehistoric complex using metal working ores from Ross Island has been identified near the town of Killarney.
The Ross Island project, led by Dr William O'Brien of UCG unearthed fine examples of Beaker pottery, traces of huts, worked bone, an early Bronze age settlement and a red deer antler carbon dated to 4,000 years ago.Mineralised rock was pounded to dust and converted to metal through smelting in a charcoal-fired pit, the excavation found.
The copper mines at Ross Island ceased work in the early 19th century.
There was talk of revitalising them in the 1950s, a plan which would have put paid to the tranquil tourist attraction that is now protected from such development under National Monuments legislation.
The mineral vein in Killarney is still rich and one of the principal attractions of mining there is the ores are near the surface. Copper bearing rocks malachite and azurite line the lake shore.
However, there are stern warnings in the booklet launched on Saturday by Mr Pat Foley of the National Parks and Wildlife Service against using geological hammers or collecting specimens.
As well as mine workings and encampments, several specimens of rare trees and plants that line the trail are marked. These include the unique Killarney white beam, giant silver fir, beech groves, alder groves centuries old yew, Mediterranean arbutus and Monterey pines.
Limestone geological sites as well as deer rutting holes are also indicated along the 3km trail, as well as the cottage rented by the romantic poet Peter Bysshe Shelley, who is believed to have begun his composition of his poem, Queen Mab, in Killarney.
Several hundred people turned out on Saturday and were given guided tours of the new trail by wildlife rangers. The opening of the trail marked the return of a pair of 17th century Dutch canons to nearby Ross Castle.