Evidence of a New Stone Age man's temper tantrum dating back 6,000 years is one of many remarkable discoveries made at an archaeological dig at Culmore on the outskirts of Derry.
The site was found by developers building a £13 million college at Thornhill. The archaeologists have so far unearthed evidence of a New Stone Age settlement which they have described as of "incredible international significance". They also believe they have found evidence of Ireland's first farming community.
"We've hit the jackpot. It's a dream discovery, one that you come across once in a lifetime," said a Department of Environment archaeologist, Mr Paul Logue. "The importance of this site is simply incredible in terms of understanding how people lived in Ireland 6,000 years ago."
Up to 50 people could have lived in this settlement, and it is believed they may have been among the first farmers in Ireland. "We have found everything about their day-to-day lifestyle contained in what was a palisaded Neolithic enclosure," Mr Logue said. "We have the full picture of their ritual habits, their beliefs and of their day-to-day activities. It's an archaeologist's wish list."
There was also evidence of more sinister activities with arrowheads discovered and the palisade surrounding the site having being burnt down. It provided a rare insight into the existence of conflict between people 6,000 years ago, he said. "There's even a stone axe which was broken in two pieces found 30 metres apart."
This may be the result of a 6,000-year-old temper tantrum as it is possible the axe was broken by its disgruntled owner, according to Mr Logue.
Meanwhile Mr Nick Brannon, director of the DOE's Built Heritage, said talks with the developers about the future of the site would take place soon. "A lot of archaeology is to do with death. . .but this site is the archaeology of life. We knew such settlements existed 6,000 years ago but we've never found one as complete as this before," he said.
"We have the remains of their homes and the remains of their rubbish. There's evidence that a battle took place here and presumably there were casualties buried here," he added.
Northern Ireland's Environment Minister, Mr Sam Foster, who visited the site yesterday, said excavations would continue until the end of the year after which the site would remain closed to the public under health and safety regulations and to preserve its archaeological integrity.
"This is incredibly significant and it's of national and international importance", he said. "It's remarkable that 4,000 years before Christ we've found how people lived in those days. It was only one foot under the ground."
Because of its importance, he said, it was hoped to preserve the site. One of the stone axes found came from the Lake District in England so there must have been inter-trade development at that time, he noted. "It's incredible to learn how people lived in the Neolithic age, people who first brought farming industry here," Mr Foster said.