High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The prehistory of Ireland has been pieced together from archaeological and genetic evidence; it begins with the first evidence of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers settling in Ireland around 7000 BC and finishes with the start of the historical record, around AD 400. The prehistoric period covers the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age societies of Ireland. For many European countries a historical record begins when the Romans invaded; however, as Ireland was not invaded by the Romans its historical record starts later, with the coming of Christianity.