Ireland's fallow deer: their historical, archaeological and biomolecular records

The Anglo‐Normans first introduced fallow deer (Dama dama) to Ireland in the thirteenth century,
however no biomolecular research has previously been undertaken to examine the timing,
circumstances and impact of the arrival of this species. This study combines historical,
zooarchaeological, genetic and isotopic data from both medieval and post‐medieval samples to
address this lack. The paper identifies a peak in the presence of fallow deer between the thirteenth
and fourteenth centuries, with a corresponding peak in documentary evidence for their presence in
the thirteenth century. The deer are predominantly male, and from castle sites, supporting the
historical evidence for their link with elite hunting. The English origin of the source populations
shows correspondence between the documentary evidence, suggesting a western bias, and genetic
evidence, with a similarity to southern and western England. Furthermore, isotopic study identifies
two possible first‐generation imports, one dating from the medieval and one from the post‐medieval
periods.