asked the Minister for Finance if there is usually a time limit within which reports of licensed excavations must be made by those carrying them out to either himself or the Director of the National Museum; if so, the limit; and if it has been complied with in all cases referred to in reply to Question No. 319 of 12th October, 1977.
Written Answers. - Archaeological Excavations.
292.
Under the terms of the licence issued by the Commissioners of Public Works a stratigraphical record must be furnished by the director of an excavation to the Director of the National Museum within six months of the completion of excavation or such longer period agreed between him/her and the Director. It has not been possible, in the time available, to ascertain if this condition has been complied with in all cases but I will advise the Deputy of the position as soon as possible. There is no time limit within which reports must be submitted to the Commissioners of Public Works by directors of licensed excavations. The condition requiring such reports was first introduced in 1977.
293.
asked the Minister for Finance the number of reports received by his Department of excavations carried out outside or in contravention of the terms of section 26 of the National Monuments Act, 1930; and the action taken.
Except possibly for excavations by the National Museum (see reply to Question No. 288 of today's date) no record of any such report has been traced.
294.
asked the Minister for Finance the criteria used by him in deciding whether to issue an archaeological excavation licence.
Licences to excavate are usually issued by the Commissioners of Public Works to those who have previously carried out archaeological excavations satisfactorily. In the case of new applicants a recommendation is sought from an archaeologist or archaeologists experienced in excavation in Ireland.
295.
asked the Minister for Education the date and subject of each export licence (a) granted and (b) refused in the past ten years for the export of an archaeological object under section 24 of the National Monuments Acts, 1930.
The date and subject of each export licence granted in the past ten years for the export of archaeological objects under section 24 of the National Monuments Act, 1930, are shown in the attached statement. No application for such a licence was refused in the past ten years.
Following is the statement:
Particulars of export Licences granted for the export of archaeological objects under section 24 of the National Monuments Act 1930.
|
Date of Licence |
Destination |
Description of Objects. |
|
20/11/67 |
Queens University Belfast |
Objects from Excavations at Tara and Knowth. Temporary export for conservation. |
|
10/1/68 |
Ulster Museum Belfast |
Hoard from Killymoon, County Tyrone. On loan until June 30, 1968. |
|
26/4/68 |
London |
Fragments of Pottery Bottle. Temporary export for examination. |
|
11/7/68 |
Ulster Museum |
Items found in excavation of Court Cairn at Shalwy, County Donegal. Temporary export for research. |
|
17/9/68 |
USA |
Irish House of Commons Mace—1765. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
25/11/68 |
Research Laboratory British Museum |
St. Manchans Shrine 12th Century A.D. Temporary export for conservation and cleaning. |
|
23/12/68 |
England |
Set of two quern stones. |
|
1/5/69 |
Conservation Laboratory Belfast |
Objects from excavation at Knowth, County Meath. Temporary export for conservation treatment. |
|
30/4/69 |
Holland |
Animal Bones from excavation of tumulus at Newgrange, County Meath. Temporary export for scientific examination. |
|
19/8/69 |
Ulster Museum |
Finds from excavations of Court Cairn at Shalwy and Croaghbey, County Donegal. Temporary export for treatment and description. |
|
20/8/69 |
Philadelphia USA |
Archaeological objects from Dun Ailinne. Temporary export for detailed study, radiography and cleaning. |
|
11/2/70 |
Queens University Belfast |
Items from excavation of passage grave at Knowth. Temporary export for conservation treatment. |
|
16/7/71 |
England |
Queen Anne Wine Cooler (Mahogany). |
|
3/9/71 |
USA |
Fourteen iron objects from Dun Ailinne. Temporary export for cleaning. |
|
5/5/72 |
Ulster Museum Belfast |
Fragments of National Monuments. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
9/5/72 |
Ulster Museum Belfast |
Three fragments of sculpture from Christ Church Cathedral. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
9/5/72 |
Ulster Museum Belfast |
Stoned carved capital. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
28/8/72 |
University Museum University of Pennsylvania USA |
Miscellaneous objects of bronze iron and bone from Dun Ailinne. Temporary export for conservation. |
|
28/1/73 |
Holland |
Animal bones from Newgrange. Temporary export for study and identification. |
|
12/3/73 |
Ulster Museum Belfast |
Archaeological objects from High St. Dublin excavations. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
12/3/73 |
Ulster Museum Belfast |
Stone saddle quern, butt of axe, 2 flint arrowheads, 8 flint scrapers, sherds of pottery. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
12/3/73 |
Ulster Museum Belfast |
Archaeological objects from excavations at National monuments. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
25/5/73 |
Queens University Belfast |
8 iron knives from High St. excavations. Temporary export for examination. |
|
23/8/73 |
Australia |
7 horse drawn vehicles, 3 antique bicycles. |
|
31/8/73 |
USA |
Archaeological objects from Dun Ailinne. Temporary export for conservation. |
|
16/1/75 |
England |
Steel fire-grate. Return to owner. |
|
14/2/75 |
British Museum London |
Innisfallen Crozier. Temporary export for conservation. |
|
5/3/75 |
British Museum |
Three stone axeheads. Temporary export for conservation treatment. |
|
5/4/77 |
Albert Egges Van Giffen Institut Amsterdam |
Animal bones from Newgrange. Temporary export for scientific examination. |
|
5/9/77 |
Initially to Metropolitan Museum New York and from there to four other museums in the USA |
Stowe Missal. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
5/9/77 |
Initially to Metropolitan Museum New York and from there to four other museums in the USA |
Archaeological objects as per List A attached. Temporary export for exhibition. |
|
5/9/77 |
Initially to Metropolitan Museum New York and from there to four other museums in the USA |
Archaeological objects as per List Battached. Temporary export for exhibition. |
List A.
1. Gold Torc, Tara, County Meath. W. 173.
2. Twisted Gold Torc, near Belfast. R. 2606.
3. Twisted Gold Torc, Clonmacnoise, County Offaly, W. 291. R. 1550.
4. Gold Lunula, Ross, County Westmeath. 1896: 15.
5. Twisted Gold Earrings, Castlerea, County Roscommon. W. 63.64.
6. Pair of Gold Armlets, Derrinboy, County Offaly. 1959: 693, 694.
7. Gold Hair Rings, Gorteenreagh, County Clare. 1948: 326-327.
8. Gold Collar, Mooghaun North, County Clare. W. 26.
9. Bronze Shield, Lough Gur, County Limerick. 1872: 15.
10. Bronze Sword Hilt with stylized human head, Ballyshannon, County Donegal S.A. 1926: 47.
11. Bronze Cauldron, Castlederg, County Tyrone. 1933: 119.
12. Bronze Pig, no locality W. 11.
13. Head of Bronze Sunflower Pin, no locality. P. 608.
14. Gold "Sun Discs" Tedavnet, County Monaghan. 1872: 34, 35.
15. Gold Gorget, Ardrony, County Tipperary. W. 16.
16. Gold Torc, Broigher, County Derry. 1903: 232.
17. Gold Collar, Clonmacnoise, County Offaly. W. 290.
18. Decorated Bronze Disc, Monasterevin, County Kildare. W. 3.
19. Bronze Bridle-bit, Attymon, County Galway. 1891: 9.
20. The "Petrie Crown" bronze P. 869. 870.
21. Bronze "Latchet" Brooch, no locality. W. 492.
22. Bronze Trumpet, Loughnashade, County Armagh. W. 8.
23. Bronze Cup, Keshcarrigan, County Leitrim. W. 37.
24. Silver Brooch, Roscrea, County Tipperary. P. 737.
25. Bronze Scabbard, Coleraine, County Derry. 1937: 3634.
26. Openwork Bronze Box, Cornalaragh, County Monaghan.
27. Bronze bell of Clogher. P. 1004.
28. Iron Bell of St. Patrick. R. 4010.
29. Gilt Silver Brooch, County Cavan. W. 43.
30. "Tara" Brooch, Bettystown, County Meath. R. 4015.
31. Ardagh Chalice. 1874: 99.
32. Subsidiary Ardagh Chalice 1874: 100.
33. Bone Trial Piece, Lagore. W. 29.
34. Gilt Bronze Plaque with Crucifixion, Athlone, County Westmeath. R. 554.
35. Smaller Silver Gilt Brooch, Ardagh, County Limerick. 1874: 101.
36. Smaller Silver Gilt Brooch, Ardagh, County Limerick. 1874: 102.
37. Silver Brooch, Killamery, County Kilkenny. R. 165.
38. Silver Penannular Brooch, Kilmainham, County Dublin. W. 45.
39. Gilt Bronze Ecclesiastical Figure, Aghaboe, County Leix. R. 2945.
40. Silver Penannular Brooch, found with Ardagh Chalice 1874: 103.
40A. Silver Thistle Brooch found with Ardagh Chalice 1874: 104.
41. Bronze Crucifixion Plaque, Clonmacnoise, County Offaly. 1935: 506.
42. Bone carving, Shandon, County Waterford. 1947: 237.
43. Book Shrine "Soiscel Molaise", County Fermanagh. R. 4006.
44. Bell Shrine "Corp Naomh", Templecross, County Westmeath. 1887: 145.
45. Silver Kite Brooch, County Kilkenny. 1874: 73.
46. "Domnach Airgid" R. 2834.
47. Bronze Cloak Pin, 1907: 116.
48. Book Shrine of Stowe Missal. 1883: 614a.
49. Clonmacnoise Crozier. R. 2988.
50. Shrine of St. Patrick's Bell. R. 4011.
51. Shrine of St. Lachtin's Arm. 1884. 690.
52. Reliquary Cross of Cong. R. 2883.
53. Gilt Bronze Ecclesiastic Figure. R. 2940.
54. Ballymacasey Cross. 1889: 4.
List B.
Book of Durrow.
Book of Dimma.
Book of Kells (2 vols.).
Book of Armagh.
Gold Dress Fastener from Clones, County Monaghan. (on deposit in N.M.I.).
Silver Brooch ("University Brooch").
Penannulary Thistle Brooch, County Tipperary.
Leather Satchel, Book of Armagh.
Shrine of Book, of Dimma.
Harp.
Penannular Brooch with enamel and glass.
296.
asked the Minister for Education the number of prosecutions in the past ten years for the offence of the exportation of archaeological objects, in contravention of section 24 of the National Monuments Acts, 1930; and the means whereby such offences are detected.
I am not aware of any such prosecutions in the past ten years. No particular means of detection is provided for in the Act.
297.
asked the Minister for Education the number and subject of each licence to alter an archaeological object (a) granted and (b) refused in the past ten years under section 25 of the National Monuments Acts, 1930.
No application has been made for a licence to alter an archaeological object under section 25 of the National Monuments Act, 1930 in the past ten years and accordingly no licence was either granted or refused in that period.
298.
asked the Minister for Education the number of prosecutions taken in the past ten years for the contravention of section 25 of the National Monuments Acts, 1930 in respect of the injury, defacement, destruction or alteration of archaeological objects; and the means whereby such offences are detected.
I am not aware of any prosecution taken in the past ten years for offences under section 25 of the National Monuments Act, 1930.
299.
asked the Minister for Education the objects declared by him in the past ten years to be archaeological objects in accordance with the terms of section 14 of the National Monuments Act, 1954; and the means whereby such declarations are published and whereby he is made aware of objects suitable to be the subject of such a declaration.
No object has been declared to be an archaeological object in accordance with the terms of the National Monuments Act, 1954. There is no provision in the Act in regard to the publication of such declaration nor does the Act specify any particular means whereby the Minister may be made aware of objects suitable to be the subject of such a declaration.
300.
asked the Minister for Education if any of the moneys granted by him to the Royal Irish Academy are used for archaeological excavations; and, if so, how much.
None of the moneys granted by me to the Royal Irish Academy are used for archaeological excavation.
301.
asked the Minister for Education if he will indicate the archaeological excavations which received support from public funds under his aegis in each of the past ten years; the amount of grant in each case, the name of the grantee; the location of the excavation; the conditions imposed in respect of the grant; and if these conditions were fulfilled.
The following excavations have been supported wholly out of funds under the control of the Minister for Education:
|
Year |
Location of Excavation |
Name of Grantee |
|
|
1968 |
Fanore, County Clare |
Habitation Site |
E. Rynne, U.C.G. |
|
1969 |
Lydacan, County Galway |
Enclosure |
E. Rynne, U.C.G. |
|
Renmore, County Galway |
Enclosure |
E. Rynne, U.C.G. |
|
|
Grannagh, County Galway |
Barrow Iron Age |
E. Rynne, U.C.G. |
|
|
Carrowbeg, County Mayo |
Barrow (uncertain date) |
E. Rynne, U.C.G. |
|
|
1970 |
Oran Beg, County Galway |
Iron Age |
E. Rynne, U.C.G. |
|
Wexford Town |
Mediaeval Site |
Museum personnel |
|
|
1971 |
Jerpoint West, County Kilkenny |
Neolithic Tumulus |
Museum personnel |
|
Ballyoskill, County Kilkenny |
Bronze Age Cemetery |
Museum personnel |
|
|
1972 |
Grannagh, County Galway |
Enclosure |
E. Rynne, U.C.G. |
|
1973 |
Sroove, County Mayo |
Bronze Age Cairn |
Museum personnel |
|
1974 |
Wexford Town, Oyster Lane |
Mediaeval site |
Museum personnel |
|
Catstown, County Kilkenny |
2 Cooking Sites |
Museum personnel |
|
|
Killeenagh Mountain, County Waterford |
Bronze Age Cemetery |
Museum personnel |
|
|
1977 |
Ballybarrack, County Louth |
Enclosure |
Museum personnel |
The following excavations have been supported in part out of funds under the control of the Minister for Education:
|
Year |
Location of Excavation |
Name of Grantee |
|
|
1967 |
High Street, Dublin |
Site 2 |
Museum personnel |
|
1969 |
Winetavern Street, Dublin |
Museum personnel |
|
|
1972 |
Christchurch Place |
Dublin |
Museum personnel |
|
1974 |
Wood Quay |
Dublin |
Museum personnel |
|
Fishamble Street |
Site 1 |
Museum personnel |
|
|
Fishamble Street |
Site 2 |
Museum personnel |
Information is not available as to the amounts paid in respect of each of the excavations in question; however for the Deputy's information the amounts paid in the financial years 1968-69 to 1977 (up to 30th September) were as follows:—
|
1968-69 |
£8 |
|
1969-70 |
£456 |
|
1970-71 |
£391 |
|
1971-72 |
£1,012 |
|
1972-73 |
£36 |
|
1973-74 |
£290 |
|
1974 (9 months) |
£1,659 |
|
1975 |
£22 |
|
1976 |
£118,472 |
|
1977 (to 30/9/77) |
£400.86 |
No special conditions relating to the payments were prescribed.