Archaeology

Humans have occupied Ireland for the past 10,000 years, leaving us with a rich legacy of archaeological monuments and landscapes. We work to conserve this unique archaeological heritage.

Publications

This is the Archaeology publications section. Here you can find all publications, reports and presentations for this heritage area of interest.

ARCHAEOLOGY FEATURED PUBLICATION

Brú na Bóinne Research Framework Project

The Bend of the Boyne, or Brú na Bóinne, has been an important ritual, social and economic centre for thousands of years. Internationally renowned for its elaborate Neolithic passage tombs, and containing the largest assemblage of megalithic art in Europe, its universal value was recognised in 1993 when it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), only one of three on the island of Ireland. The Heritage Council, in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, has drafted a research framework for Brú na Bóinne which re-assesses key priorities and looks at where future research should be directed.

Click here to download the Brú na Bóinne Reseach Framework : SUMMARY [PDF 7MB]

Click here to download the Brú na Bóinne Reseach Framework : FULL DOCUMENT [PDF 10.5MB]

ARCHAEOLOGY PUBLICATION

Air and Earth: Aerial Archaeology in Ireland

The Heritage Council recently published a review of aerial photography and airborne survey in Ireland.

Aerial archaeology is the practice of using aircraft (or in some cases satellites) to provide a high-level view of the historic environment based on conventional photography and a range of remote sensing technologies. It is relevant to all stages of archaeological work — reconnaissance, interpretation, analysis, publication and dissemination, and is one among many methods.

Air and Earth: Aerial Archaeology in Ireland [PDF 3.4MB]

Latest Publications

Inventory of Archaeological and Architectural Sources for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown

The Inventory of Archaeological and Architectural Sources for Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown is intended to be the first port of call for anyone undertaking research into the built heritage of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

Click here to download a PDF version of the document [PDF 3.2MB]

Guide to Recording of Built Heritage

The aim of the Guide to Recording of Built Heritage is to promote awareness of built heritage and to guide community groups, school groups and heritage organisations with an interest in collecting heritage information in their local area how they can carry out a survey of their built heritage.

Click here to download a copy of the document in PDF format [PDF 1.4MB]

Guidance Notes for the Appraisal of Historic Gardens, Demesnes, Estates and their Settings

The aim of the Guidance Notes for the Appraisal of Historic Gardens, Demesnes, Estates and their Settings is to provide a steer to developers who are planning development within designed landscapes as to how to design such development to minimise impacts on its setting, and how to appraise such impacts. Cork County Council has won an award from the IPI and the UK Landscape Institute for this guidance.

Click here to download document in PDF format [PDF 2.2 MB]

Archaeological and Historical Report on Cruicetown

This report contains an archaeological, historical and architectural assessment of the church and graveyard at Cruicetown, Co. Meath, RMP ME005/094. This information will provide a baseline of information on the site prior to remedial works within the graveyard area.

Click here to download a PDF version of this document [9.4MB]