When the Alexandrian scholar Ptolemy compiled his geography of the known world, he described a far-off land, Ireland, known in Classical sources as 'Ierne' ('the fertile land'). One of the tribes mentioned by Ptolemy is the Iverni, who were living in the general area of what is now Cork. Cork has one of Ireland's richest archaeological landscapes, with thousands of recorded monuments and artifacts from the pre-Christian era. This is the first general study of the prehistory of Cork and it looks at the archaeology of some 8,000 years of human life, from the end of the Ice Age to the arrival of Christianity in the fifth century AD. The major developments in human society during this period are introduced, along with the most important ancient sites and monuments of the region. The results of many archaeological excavations from the past decade are summarised and the most important artifacts from the pre-Christian era found in Cork are examined. An authoritative insight into the early story of Cork, Iverni provides an appreciation of the archaeology of the area.Generously illustrated with photographs, drawings and distribution maps, this is the most complete picture of Cork in prehistory.