Archaeologists at the controversial national monument site at Lismullin, Co Meath, were yesterday involved in urgent efforts to prevent major damage to the site from heavy rainfall. Tim O'Brienreports.
Protective plastic covering was in place and pumps were being rushed to the site after water was seen to be washing soil, vegetation and gravel down earthen banks on to the recently classified national monument.
As the debate continued on whether the motorway should be rerouted, archaeologists on site said they desperately needed time and good weather to make their complete archaeological survey.
Lead archaeologist Ronan Swan said directions regarding a survey and the making of a record of the site had been received from the Department of the Environment.
A methodology would have to be set up and approved by the department but he feared any delay, such as a High Court injunction or weather damage, "would seriously impair the quality and quantity of the information" which may be gleaned.
The surviving features of the monument are shallow and fragile. They consist of two outer circles and one inner circle of stakeholes of 15-20cm in diameter. They indicate the presence at one time of a large circular enclosure about 80m in diameter, with a smaller inner central enclosure of 16m in diameter.
Two further rows of stakeholes show evidence of an entrance and passageway from the outer enclosure to the inner enclosure. These archaeological features have been heavily truncated by ploughing in the past.
The directions issued by the Minister require the National Roads Authority (NRA) to fully excavate and record the part of the monument which is located within the land take for M3.
The directions also require the NRA to carry out a topographical survey of the entire monument and the surrounding area, including the areas outside the land-take, and to carry out geophysical surveys of the same areas.
In addition they require that a committee be established "to ensure that the monument gets the fullest possible attention and is excavated to the highest standard".
Margaret Gowen, acting chairwoman of Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland, said yesterday she believed the directions on "preservation by record" were "entirely appropriate".
Ms Gowen, who has worked extensively with the NRA, told The Irish Timesthe alternative to excavation of the site was to cover it over with topsoil and preserve it in situ. Archaeology was about the "the retrieval of culturally valuable information" and indications were that there was more culturally valuable information to be gleaned from Lismullin.
Dr Pat Wallace, National Museum director, has called for a complete archaeological excavation, but has criticised the mechanical stripping of soil. He was on leave yesterday and efforts to contact him were unsuccessful.
Campaign groups TaraWatch and Campaign to Save Tara said the monument should be seen as part of an entire complex around the Hill of Tara all of which should be preserved.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch said the new Minister for the Environment would shortly receive "a solicitor's letter showing that new analysis indicates that the valley is part of one single national monument". He called on John Gormley to place a preservation order on the entire Tara/ Skryne valley, regardless of earlier decisions.