Archaeological Excavation in Ireland

ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION

WHY? WHERE? WHO? HOW?

WHY? AND WHERE?

RESEARCH – To address a particular question about the past. Small number of research digs every year (less than 20).

RESCUE – As part of development control. The majority of the 2000 or so excavations in Ireland arise due to issues raised during the planning process.

RESEARCH EXCAVATION Rath na Riogh, Tara
Rath of the Synods

Mound of the Hostages

An Forradh

Teach Chormaic

Project funded by government.

Carried out by The Discovery Programme.

Focused on archaeological issues.

RESULTS PUBLISHED AS:
Roche, H. 2002, ‘Excavations at Ráith na Ríg, Tara, Co. Meath, 1997’, Discovery Programme Reports 6, 19–82. Dublin, Royal Irish Academy/Discovery Programme.


RESCUE EXCAVATION

-ARISES FROM PLANNING PROCESS

-National Monuments Section identify a threat to an archaeological site and suggest:
-suitable mitigation (if required)
-permission is refused
-further information is required


TYPICAL PLANNING CONDITION
The developer shall facilitate the planning authority in preserving, recording or otherwise protecting archaeological materials or features that may exist within the site. In this regard, the developer shall -
- notify the planning authority in writing at least four weeks prior to the commencement of any site operation (including hydrological and geotechnical investigations) relating to the proposed development,
- employ a suitably-qualified archaeologist who shall monitor all site investigations and other excavation works, and
- provide satisfactory arrangements for the recording and removal of any archaeological material which may be considered appropriate to remove.
Reason: In order to conserve the archaeological heritage of the site and to secure the preservation of any remains which may exist within the site.
The National Monuments Section (NMS) is responsible for:The identification and designation of sites through the Archaeological Survey of Ireland, which is an integral part of the NMS. Assisting OPW in the archaeological care of state properties; Implementation of protective and regulatory controls (incl.Licensing of excavations) under the National Monuments Acts; The provision of input and advice to planning and other authorities in respect of individual planning and other development applications, projects and plans.
Legislation
•National Monuments Acts 1930 - 2004:
•National Monuments Act 1930:
•National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1954:
•National Monuments Amendment Act 1987:
•National Monuments Amendment Act 1994:
•National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004: (No 22 of 2004)

Framework on which planning decisions are based are the mapped records held by the state.1st EditionOrdnanceSurveyMap


Data Resources
(Maintained by National Monuments, Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government)

Record of Monuments and Places (RMP)
Sites and Monuments Record (SMR)
Register of Historic Monuments
Maritime Sites and Monuments Record
Urban Archaeological Surveys
National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH)
Published County Archaeological Inventories and Surveys
Office of Public Works river drainage files


The Register of Sites and Places / Sites and Monuments Record: This comprising some one hundred and twenty thousand protected archaeological sites throughout Ireland. Many important or threatened archaeological site which are not in the ownership of the state, are specifically protected under legislation from being damaged or interfered with by the legal owners of the land.

The National Monuments Service is the licencing authority for all archaeological excavation, which can only be carried out by qualified and registered archaeologists. The register of excavations maintains details of all excavations carried out in Ireland together with a large archive of excavation reports. Excavations at the moment, exceed 1000 per annum.

Licence applications must also be sent to the National Museum of Ireland.
Hill of TaraNGR:29201/259793RMP No: ME 031-033-16 SMR No: ME 31/33
Hill of TaraSMR No: ME 31/33NGR:29201/259793RMP No: ME 031-033-16
WHO?
•Most archaeological excavations are carried out by private companies.

–Companies first appeared in the late 1980s.
–Now there are around 20 medium to large consultancies in the Republic of Ireland.
–Some have multi-million Euro turnovers.
–Numbers are usually uncertain, but there are probably around 1200-1500 employed on archaeological excavations are related work.



•4. Location of site
•(a) Townland or City Ward
•(b) Parish (c) County
•(d) 6 map (e) 25 map (f ) 6 Co-ords E (g) 6 Co-ords N (h) 1:1000
•(i) National Grid Co-ordinates (j) SMR number
•Attach Method Statement?Research design including a photocopy of relelvant portion of 6Ó, 25Ó or 1:1000 Ordnance Survey map with
•location of site and area to be excavated clearly marked. If a maritime wreck site, give latitude and longitude, admiralty chart number and photocopy of same with site marked.
•N.B. Failure to include a Method Statement/Research Design including a properly marked map will delay processing of your applicant or result in refusal of licence.


•5. Excavation Details
•(a) Type of site (if known)
•(b) Has site been inspected by applicant with a view to excavation Yes/No
•6. Period of time
•(a) length for which licence is sought?
•(b) when excavation is expected to take place?
•7. Purpose of excavation?


•8. Number of expected further seasons on site
•9. Owner of site
•Address of owner
•10. Excavation funding
•(a) Are adequate funds available for this excavation?
•(b) Source of funding
•(c) Are adequate funds available for post excavation work?


•10. Excavation funding
•(a) Are adequate funds available for this excavation?
•(b) Source of funding
•(c) Are adequate funds available for post excavation work?
•11. Planning Details (to be filled out only if excavation is connected with a development)
•(a) Is this application connected with a Planning Application/EIS/Other (specify)
•(b) Planning Authority (c) Planning Register Number
•(d) Are you aware of the planning conditions relating to this site (enclose a copy of the relevant conditions)
•(e) Does your excavation strategy take these conditions into account


•12. Finds
•(a) Where will finds be housed during post-excavation work?
•(b) Where will finds be housed ultimately?
•(c) What facilities are available to you for finds conservation?
•13. Publication Record (Archaelogical excavations directed or co-directed by applicant within or outside the state)
•(a) Excavations with definitive reports published
•(b) All unpublished excavations for which detailed reports have been lodged with the National Monuments Service.

Notes attached to the licence:
•3 (a). Under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts all archaeological objects are the property of the State. The National Museum of Ireland is the States repository for archaeological objects. The licensee is not at liberty to enter into private arrangements regarding the disposition of material. The National Museum shall be consulted by the licensee regarding the temporary storage of excavated finds.

Notes attached to the licence:
•b). The licensee is reminded that it is illegal to export archaeological objects, even on a temporary basis, without a licence from the National Museum of Ireland. It is also illegal to alter, conserve or destructively sample artefacts without a licence from the National Museum. Apllication for these licences should be made to the Director of the National Museum.

Notes attached to the licence:
•6. The licensee shall lodge a preliminary report on the ecavation with the National Monuments Service and the National Museum within four weeks of the competion of each season of excavation. S/he shall lodge a detailed report on the excavation within twelve months of the completion of the excavation with the National Monuments Service and the National Museum. This report should be to publication standard and should include a full account, suitably illustrated, of the stratigraphy, features and finds along with a discussion and specialist reports. It is expected that the excavator will make every effort to have the report published thereafter and a copy of the published report should be lodged with the National Monuments Service.


Records are kept for all activities on an excavation

Everything is labeled and the locations recorded in drawn plans and written records
Basic plans are drawn and then annotated
Heights are taken
Finds and samples are meticulously bagged and recorded

Detailed records are prepared describing the relationship between different layers and features

PUBLICATION
•Excavations tend to be published in various ways:

–Archaeology Journals (National and Local)
–As a book in their own right
–As part of a collection of Archaeology Papers
–On the Internet

–NOT AT ALL (This is too common).