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• 2001-2004. BA in Archaeology and History (NUI, Galway, Ireland).
  2004-2006. M.Litt. in Archaeology (NUI, Galway, Ireland). Thesis title: Driscoll, K. 2006. The early prehistory in the west of Ireland:Investigations into the social archaeology of the Mesolithic, west of the Shannon, Ireland
  2006-2010. Ph.D. in Archaeology (University College Dublin, Ireland). Thesis title: Driscoll, K. 2010. Understanding quartz technology in early prehistoric Ireland
  2011-Present. Post-doctoral Fellow, Universitat de Barcelona. Project title: Technological analysis and characterisation of lithic production of flint alternatives in the Magdelanian, Northeastern Iberian Peninsula

• Lithic technology
• Experimental archaeology
• Social archaeology
• Landscape archaeology
• Petroarchaeology
• Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic archaeology

Killian Driscoll’s Masters research focused on the social archaeology of the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic (c.8000-3500 cal BC) in the west of Ireland.
His doctorate research investigated the use of quartz in the stone tool traditions of the Mesolithic and Neolithic in Ireland. This research was based on experimental archaeology, using experimental knapping, experimental burning, and the recognition of quartz artefacts by archaeologists to develop a framework for the analysis of quartz artefacts. This framework was then used to analyse quartz from Mesolithic and Neolithic assemblages in Ireland.
The current post-doctoral research develops on his doctoral research, applying it to assemblages from the Magdelanian in the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula. This project investigates the use of flint alternatives (quartz, rhyolite,…….) and involves geoarchaeological fieldwork and mapping, experimental knapping of raw materials, and a technological analysis and characterisation of these materials from the Magdelanian assemblages from the open air site at Montlleo and the cave site at Cova del Parco.

• Tecnología lítica
• Arqueología experimental
• Arqueología social
• Arqueología del paisaje
• Arqueopetrología
• Arqueología del paleolítico, mesolítico y neolítico

La investigación de Máster de Killian Driscoll se centró en la arqueología social del mesolítico y neolítico temprano (c. 8000-3500 cal BC) en el oeste de Irlanda.

Su investigación doctoral se ha centrado en la utilización de cuarzo en las tradiciones de útiles líticos del mesolítico y neolítico en Irlanda. Esta investigación se basó en la arqueología experimental, utilizando la talla experimental,  la acción del fuego y el reconocimiento de objetos de cuarzo por parte de arqueólogos, para desarrollar un marco para el análisis de artefactos de cuarzo. Este marco se utilizó posteriormente para analizar el cuarzo de conjuntos mesolíticos y neolíticos en Irlanda.

La investigación postdoctoral actual se basa en la doctoral, aplicándola a conjuntos magdalenienses  del noreste peninsular. Este proyecto investiga el uso de materias primas alternativas al sílex (cuarzo, riolita….) e integra prospecciones geoarqueológicas y cartografía de campo, talla experimental de las materias primas, y un análisis tecnológico y caracterización de estos materiales a partir de los conjuntos Magdalenienses del yacimiento al aire libre de Montlleo  y el yacimiento de la Cova del Parco.

Projects/Projectes
2010 Archaeological survey of Lough Allen and its environs, with special emphasis on prehistoric lithic scatters and lithic extraction sites. Funded by the Royal IrishAcademy Archaeological Research Fund 2010.

• Driscoll, K. 2011. Identifying and classifying vein quartz artefacts: an experiment conducted at the World Archaeological Congress, 2008. Archaeometry, Vol. 53 (Early View).

  Driscoll, K. 2011. Vein quartz in lithic traditions: an analysis based on experimental archaeology. Journal of Archaeological Science, Vol. 38 Issue 3 pp. 734-45.

  Driscoll, K. and Menuge, J. 2011. Recognising burnt vein quartz artefacts in archaeological assemblages. Journal of Archaeological Science. Vol. 38, Issue 9, pp. 2251-60.

  Driscoll, K. 2009. Constructing Later Mesolithic landscapes. In N. Finlay, S. McCartan, N. Milner and C. Wickham-Jones (eds), From Bann flakes to Bushmills: papers in honour of Professor Peter Woodman. Oxford, Prehistoric Society Research Papers 1, Oxbow, pp. 97-108.

  Driscoll, K. 2009. Exploring the chaîne opératoires in Irish quartz lithic traditions: current research. Internet Archaeology 26 http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue26/driscollb_index.html

  Driscoll, K. 2009. The early prehistory in the west of Ireland: investigations into the social archaeology of the Mesolithic, west of the Shannon, Ireland. In S. McCarton, R. Schulting, G. M. Warren and P.C. Woodman (eds), Mesolithic horizons: papers presented at the seventh international conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Belfast 2005. Oxford, Oxbow, pp. 880-81.

  Driscoll, K. 2009. 'They wrought almost any material that came in their way': Mesolithic flint alternatives in the west of Ireland. Internet Archaeology 26 http://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue26/driscolla_index.html

  Driscoll, K. and Warren, G. M. 2007. Dealing with the 'quartz problem' in Irish lithic research. Lithics: The Journal of the Lithic Studies Society 28, pp. 4-14.

  Driscoll, K. and Warren, G. M. In Press. Macrolithic quartz technology in Mesolithic western Ireland: a quartz scatter from Belderrig, Co. Mayo. Papers presented at the eighth international conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Santander 2010, Oxford, Oxbow.