Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2862. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the archaeological dig under way in the Boyne Valley region; the guidance issued by her Department in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35171/18]
View answer2863. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the media reports on the significant archaeological finds uncovered recently by aerial photography in the Boyne Valley region. [35172/18]
View answer2864. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the recent archaeological finds in the Boyne Valley region will be fully conserved; and if they will become open to the public to visit upon completion of the dig and associated works. [35173/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2862 to 2864, inclusive, together.
There are a number of archaeological excavations ongoing in the Boyne Valley area, all of which have been licensed by my Department under the National Monuments Acts. These include the excavation of a newly discovered passage tomb at Dowth Hall and excavations being carried under the Royal Irish Academy Research excavation grant scheme which is part funded by my Department. Reports on the excavations will be published in due course.
Following the recent discovery of a large prehistoric enclosure close to the Great Neolithic Passage Tomb of Newgrange, my Department’s National Monuments Service has conducted aerial survey work in and around the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site. The survey has produced images of various known and newly identified sites, the latter having manifested as crop marks because of the dry weather conditions in recent weeks.
The results of the survey work and discoveries will increase and enrich our understanding of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site and of prehistoric society. The investigation of these sites is at an extremely early stage and further analysis is ongoing to inform future plans. As a first step, the archaeological features noted from the survey will be mapped to help assess their spatial relationship to each other and to the many other known monuments in the area.
The global interest in these discoveries is to be welcomed as it highlights to a wide audience the wealth and breadth of Ireland’s archaeological heritage. The new discoveries will also add greatly to the visitor experience for the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Brú na Bóinne centre and the great passage tomb complexes of the Boyne Valley.
