killarney national park is one of the very few places in ireland that has been continuously covered by woodland since the end of the most recent glacial period, approximately 10,000 years ago. humans have lived in the area since at least the bronze age, approximately 4,000 years ago. archaeologists have found evidence that copper mining took place in the ross island area during this period, which suggests that the area was of considerable importance to bronze age people. the park has many archaeological features, including a well preserved stone circle at lissivigeen. the woods in the park have been disturbed and cleared at different periods since the iron age. this has caused a gradual decline in the diversity of tree species in the park.