Rockmarshall has been settled since the
Mesolithic (c. 5700 BC on); excavation of a
midden shows late tools,
oysters and
periwinkles. The
Carlingford Lough/
Cooley Peninsula region was low in Mesolithic activity in comparison to
Strangford Lough and
Belfast Lough, due to the low quality
flint. Carlingford and the
Mournes could also have provided berries and nuts in season, and wild boar. A local population survived at Rockmarshall into the
Neolithic, and the court cairn was built c. 3500 BC. ==Description==