Archaeological Investigation

In recent years, since the Code of Practice agreed between the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and the National Roads Authority (2000), major changes have taken place in the approach to archaeology on national road developments. The strategy employed on road schemes since 2001, including the M3, is a radical departure from previous strategies, where archaeological monitoring of topsoil stripping at construction stage was the means of finding new archaeological sites. The strategy now employed is innovative in terms of using techniques, such as geophysical survey, previously reserved for research projects. Most importantly, it actively seeks out previously unknown archaeological sites so that ample time and resources can be allocated to their excavation and recording prior to the start of road construction.

There are three phases of archaeological investigations on the M3: Geophysical Survey, Testing and Excavation. A description of the methodology and summary results of each phase can be found by clicking on the links above.

Archaeological Licensing Procedures

All archaeological excavation and some other activities, such as metal-detecting and geophysical survey, require a licence from the government. The licence is issued by the National Monuments Section of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland. In addition, the National Museum of Ireland licenses the alteration or export of archaeological objects (e.g. for conservation purposes).

In 2004 a new amendment to the National Monuments Act was introduced in relation to An Bord Pleanala approved road schemes. Under the Act the roads authority is given directions instead of licences by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to carry out archaeological work.