12/05/2026
The Irish Institute of Hellenic Studies at Athens is very pleased to share the next chapter of its initiative “Sharing Ancient Irish Heritage with the Irish Diaspora in Greece”, a series of open public lectures on Irish archaeology, which will run throughout May under the overarching theme “Layers of Ireland”.
In the second talk, Dr Ros Ó Maoldúin, Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland, will present on “Treasures of the Burren: Prehistoric tombs and Ancient DNA.” The lecture will take place in hybrid form on Thursday, 14 May, at 7pm.
Few landscapes in Ireland hold as many secrets as the Burren. In this talk, Dr Ó Maoldúin takes us on a vivid journey through one of Europe’s most remarkable prehistoric landscapes, a vast limestone karst on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic coast, where archaeological remains have survived for thousands of years.
The Burren’s particular geology has earned it UNESCO Geopark status — but on its iconic limestone pavements, there also lies an archaeological treasure trove of megalithic tombs and settlement traces. The same stone that shaped this landscape also preserved the bones of the people who lived on it, with profound implications for modern science. Human remains recovered here are among the best-preserved in Ireland and researchers have successfully extracted ancient DNA from these bones, opening a remarkable window onto the lives, movements, and relationships of people who lived here thousands of years ago.
Dr Ó Maoldúin brings this story to life through his own excavations: three Chalcolithic megalithic tombs, a barrow, and several prehistoric hut sites, all uncovered in this extraordinary landscape. Illustrated with photographs from the field, this talk offers a first-hand account of discovery at the intersection of archaeology and cutting-edge genetic science.
A talk for anyone fascinated by prehistoric Ireland, ancient people, and the science that is rewriting our understanding of both.
📢 IIHSA Lecture
Join us next Thursday, 14 May, for a public lecture by Dr Ros Ó Maoldúin (Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland), who will take us on a fascinating journey through “Treasures of the Burren: Prehistoric Tombs and Ancient DNA.”
🕖 19:00 (Greece) | 17:00 (Ireland) | 12:00 (EST)
📍 Hybrid event
🔹 To attend in person at our premises (Agras 23, Athens), please register by email: [email protected]
🔹 To attend online, register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/HZd_LLAWTxmzMZ8vDI62QA
We look forward to welcoming you!