The Heritage Council’s Policy Paper on Urban Archaeology and the National Heritage (1999) recommended a complete review of unpublished urban excavations. It suggested that appropriate projects could be assigned to related groups to create publication packages. It further recommended that excavations be categorised as they are completed so that agreement could be reached regarding an appropriate level of publication. Finally, it recommended that consideration be given to the best means of funding publication of excavations.
In order to progress this matter the Heritage Council commissioned the Oxford Archaeological Unit to carry out a survey of all unpublished excavations in the Republic of Ireland. That report is presented here with recommendations. Raising public awareness about the national heritage and its significance is a key theme in the Heritage Council’s plan 2001-5. Improving the dissemination of information from publicly funded archaeological investigations, which would otherwise be practically unknown to the public, is a key aim.
Author(s): Ian W. Doyle, David Jennings, Jackie MacDermott, Dana Challinor, George Lambrick (eds.)
Series: The Heritage Council of Ireland Series
Publisher: The Heritage Council
Year: 2002
Language: English
Pages: 130
City: Dublin
LIST OF FIGURES 4
LIST OF TABLES 5
LIST OF BOXES 5
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6
FOREWORD 7
BROLLACH 8
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 11
1.1 THE BRIEF 11
1.2 SCOPE 12
1.3 STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT 12
1.4 SYNOPSIS OF METHODOLOGY 12
1.5 BACKGROUND: OBSERVATIONS ON ARCHAEOLOGY IN IRELAND 1930-1997 13
CHAPTER 2: EXISTING STATUTORY AND PLANNING FRAMEWORKS 16
2.1 GENERAL BACKGROUND 16
2.2 LICENCE OBLIGATIONS 16
2.3 DEPARTMENT OF ARTS, HERITAGE, GAELTACHT AND THE ISLANDS 16
2.4 IAPA (NOW IAI) GUIDELINES ON PUBLICATION 20
2.5 CONCLUDING REMARKS: THE LAW AND PROFESSIONAL GUIDELINES 20
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY AND DATABASE CONSTRUCTION 21
3.1 INTRODUCTION 21
3.2 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE AND PUBLICATION CATEGORIES 21
3.3 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 23
3.4 DEVELOPMENT OF THE DATABASE AND ITS STRUCTURE 24
3.5 OAU ADDITIONAL DATA 26
3.6 BIBLIOGRAPHIC TRAWL 28
CHAPTER 4: SURVEY RESULTS 30
4.1 INTRODUCTION 30
4.2 THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF EXCAVATIONS 30
4.3 UNDERSTANDING THE BACKLOG: GENERIC TRENDS AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS 31
4.4 CURRENT PUBLICATION MEDIA 33
4.5 ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 35
4.6 ASSESSMENT OF UNPUBLISHED REPORT QUALITY 39
4.7 ANALYSIS OF DATA BY PERIOD 42
4.8 ANALYSIS OF DATA BY SITE TYPE 45
CHAPTER 5: RECOMMENDATIONS 51
5.1 INTRODUCTION 51
5.2 POTENTIAL COSTS OF THE BACKLOG PROGRAMME 52
5.3 MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK OF BACKLOG PROGRAMME 54
5.4 POLICIES RELATING TO A BACKLOG PROGRAMME 59
5.5 ADJUSTMENTS TO CURRENT PRACTICE 62
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSIONS 66
APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: CONSULTATION RESULTS 68
APPENDIX 2: POTENTIAL PUBLICATION PACKAGES 77
APPENDIX 3: ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH BACKLOG PROGRAMMES 96
APPENDIX 4: THE GALWAY EXCAVATION PROJECT 100
APPENDIX 5: CATALOGUE OF UNPUBLISHED CATEGORY 1 AND 2 EXCAVATIONS 102
REFERENCES 129
