Vol. 575 No. 4
155 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government the number of medieval sites throughout the country; the number which have been archaeologically excavated other than in the course of modern development; the number of sites earmarked for investigation or excavation in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28616/03]
156 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his plans for the archaeological excavation and protection of medieval sites throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28617/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together.
The term "medieval" is now generally understood to mean the period from the mid-fifth century AD to the mid-sixteenth century AD. It is not possible at this time to estimate the total number of known archaeological monuments and sites of all categories falling within that period in the records of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland. However, it would be a substantial percentage of the approximately 120,000 monuments and sites entered in the record of monuments and places established under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. All such sites are protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-1994.
The archaeological excavation of medieval sites, other than in mitigation of development impacts, is carried out under either programmes of conservation works at monuments or research projects. To date an estimated 250 archaeological excavations have been carried out on this basis by my Department and its predecessors or by other authorised archaeological teams at medieval sites of all categories. Similar excavations in the future will take place in accordance with the deployment of proposed conservation or research projects.
