From evolved stars to the evolution of IC 1613

IC 1613 is a Local Group dwarf irregular galaxy at a distance of 750 kpc. In this work, we present an analysis of the star formation history (SFH) of a field of similar to 200 arcmin(2) in the central part of the galaxy. To this aim, we use a novel method based on the resolved population of more highly evolved stars. We identify 53 such stars, eight of which are supergiants and the remainder are long-period variables, large-amplitude variables, or extreme asymptotic giant branch (x-AGB) stars. Using stellar evolution models, we find the age and birth mass of these stars and thus reconstruct the SFH. The average rate of star formation during the last Gyr is similar to 3 x 10(-4)M(circle dot) yr(-1) kpc(-2). The absence of a dominant epoch of star formation over the past 5 Gyr suggests that IC 1613 has evolved in isolation for that long, spared harassment by other Local Group galaxies (in particular M 31 and the Milky Way). We confirm the radial age gradient, with star formation currently concentrated in the central regions of IC 1613, and the failure of recent star formation to have created the main H 1 supershell. Based on the current rate of star formation at (5.5 +/- 2) x 10(-3) M-circle dot yr(-1), the interstellar gas mass of the galaxy of 9 x 10(7)M(circle dot), and the gas production rate from AGB stars at similar to 6 x 10(-4) M-circle dot yr(-1), we conclude that the star formation activity of IC 1613 can continue for similar to 18 Gyr in a closed-box model, but is likely to cease much earlier than that unless gas can be accreted from outside.