Archaeology

A Chara

On behalf of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I refer to correspondence received in connection with the above.

Outlined below are heritage-related observations/recommendations of the Department under the stated heading(s).

Archaeology

The proposed SEA and other attendant incorporated plans, e.g. Flood Risk Management, etc. are scheduled for undertaking for the new Local Area Plan for Thomastown in Kilkenny. The plan will encompasses a large and diverse area ranging from greenfield sites, riverine areas, urban and rural environments. It is requested that the relevant assessments, including the SEA and other such as the Flood Risk Assessment shall take account of the following observations and recommendations of the National Monuments Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

It is recommended that all such relevant and appropriate assessment contain a detailed Cultural Heritage Sections that looks to assess all aspects of the Thomastown area and its Environs (both for terrestrial and underwater cultural heritage) and thus provide a comprehensive archaeological assessment that will then form part of a strategic assessment process to inform the LAP generally and cover potential developments or works that may not be subject to the normal planning process. There is a potential for previously unrecorded archaeology, and particularly that from an underwater environment, relating to the proposed zones covered by the LAP, and that will be subject to statutory protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014.

Appropriate Archaeological Impact Assessments (AIA) or Underwater Archaeological Impact Assessments (UAIA) would be particularly relevant where any Flood Risk Management Scheme is proposed or is to be extended. It is therefore recommended that the SEA and any proposed Flood Risk Management Assessments include assessment of the known and potential cultural heritage in all areas to be covered by the LAP. This shall include the known and potential terrestrial and underwater archaeological heritage in areas that may be the subject of proposed developments in the future, including riverine and lacustrine locations, etc.

An AIA/UAIA can be desk based in the first instance, with the more detailed fieldwork or underwater assessments carried out as part of the statutory planning process, a general assessment, undertaken by a suitably qualified and suitably experienced archaeologist (with underwater/maritime experience regarding the UCH), that shall ensure that future proposed works that fall under both statutory and non-statutory regulations with regard to the planning process, will be addressed. This will inform on the protection of all aspects of the cultural heritage when the Local Authority considers developments or zoning under the new LAP.

Terrestrial & Underwater Archaeology:

In The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) recorded archaeological sites are to be found within the areas addressed for the proposed LAP. These Recorded Monuments are protected under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. The RMP is not an exhaustive list of all archaeology in existence, and in this regard DCHG would like to draw the applicant’s attention to the Department’s published policy in relation to the archaeological assessment of large-scale developments on sites where there are no previously recorded monuments (Framework and Principles for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage – Published by Dúchas The Heritage Service).

Similarly, contained within the areas covered are underwater environments, including riverine environments. These may contain known and previously unknown underwater archaeological heritage that should be considered in any appropriate assessment to inform the LAP. Such sites can include fortifications with associated slipways, quays, etc., wrecks, fishtraps, lakeside dwellings, fording points, clapper bridges, bridges, causeways, logboats, singular sites such as rock cut platforms and steps, and of course artefactual material associated with sites or as individual depositions in underwater environments.

It is the policy of The Heritage & Planning Division and the Underwater Archaeology Unit that proposed developments, due to their location, size, or nature, that may have implications for the archaeological heritage should be subject to archaeological assessment. This should be included in the LAP. Such developments include those that are located at or close to an archaeological monument or site, those that are extensive in terms of area (1/2 hectare or more) or length (1 kilometre or more), those that may impact the underwater environment (marine, intertidal/foreshore, riverine or lacustrine) and developments that require an Environmental Impact Statement. Archaeological heritage includes:

• National Monuments in the ownership or care of the State or Local Authority; it shall be noted that these will have Consent requirements and will need to be addressed directly with the National Monuments Service in this regard.

• Archaeological and Architectural monuments/sites in the Record of Monuments and Places.

• Monuments in the Register of Historic Monuments

• Zones of Archaeological Potential in Historic Towns

• Underwater Archaeological Heritage, including Historic Wrecks

• Previously unknown and unrecorded archaeological sites (including subsurface elements with no visible surface remains and potential sites underwater in rivers, lakes or the sea, that can include wharves, jetties, quays, piers, fish traps, anchorages, bridges, fording points, rockcut steps or sea caves)

• Potential sites located in the vicinity of large complexes of site or monuments

• Present or former wetlands, unenclosed land, rivers or lakes, reclaimed areas, or the inter-tidal zone

You are requested to send further communications to this Department’s Development applications Unit (DAU) at manager.dau@chg.gov.ie (team monitored); if this is not possible, correspondence may alternatively be sent to:

The Manager

Development Applications Unit (DAU)

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Newtown Road

Wexford

Y35 AP90

Is mise, le meas

Diarmuid Buttimer