News

October 2011

Launch of Journal of Irish Archaeology Vol XIX

A wine reception to launch the latest issue of the Journal of Irish Archaeology (Volume XIX) will take place as part of the IAI Autumn Conference, on Friday 4 November at 7.30pm in the Gresham-Metropole Hotel, Cork. It will be followed at 8.30pm by the Table Quiz.

For more information on the conference, please download the full programme and presentation abstracts from the conference information page.

September 2011

Treatment of post-AD 1700 monument in the RMP

It is proposed by the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht that monuments dating to the period post- AD1700 will be delisted from the Record of Monuments & Places (RMP), thus removing their statutory protection, and their conditioning within the planning system These monuments have been highlighted in green on the Department’s website. The Archaeological Survey of Ireland (ASI) has been locating, recording and describing the archaeological monuments of this country for several decades. The criteria for selection, of monuments to be recorded in each county have, however, been variable. Significant numbers of post-AD 1700 monuments have been included in the RMPs for Cork, Galway and Dublin, but not in a consistent manner. In 1982, guidelines were provided the Cork Archaeological Survey advising them to survey “everything up to 1700 and selectively afterwards”. A detailed and systematic survey was undertaken by the Cork Archaeological Survey in order to make an informed selection of post-AD 1700 monuments.

The ASI is currently preparing a revision of the RMP. The ASI is obliged under government policy (2005 White Paper, ‘Regulating Better’) to ensure that there is consistency across the recorded monument listings for each county. Primarily due to limited resources, as well as a back-log in processing the previously collected datasets, the ASI is proposing that any post-AD 1700 monuments previously recorded on the RMP should be de-listed.

IAI has been in contact with both the Archaeological Survey and the National Monuments Service in relation to this issue and intend to continue this dialogue, at all levels, in order to ensure that the concerns of the Institute and its members in relation to this proposal are fully expressed and that possible solutions are explored. We are confident that a suitable resolution can be achieved.

Autumn Conference 2011

The Autumn Conference will take place on 4-5 November at the Gresham Metropole Hotel Cork. The theme of the conference will be Heritage tourism and community initiatives:The value of communicating archaeology . Papers are invited relevant to this theme; there will also be a session dedicated to short papers on current post-graduate research. For more information see here. 

Changes to the IAI Website

The IAI website will be rebuilt and restructured over the autumn, we hope to have a fully revamped website ready by early November. However, as a result of these changes, there may be periods when the website is temporarily off-line, or where sections of the website are unavailable during the transition. We apologise for any inconvenience as a result of this, but hope the new and improved website will compensate.

August 2011

Changes to the Register of Members

We are changing the Register of Members and will now have two published membership lists. The Register of Members from now on will list the full names of all current members of the Institute along with their membership grade - no other information will be included in this listing. It will allow the membership status of our members to be easily confirmed.

We now in the process of developing a Directory of Members, this will be an optional listing open to all current members in good standing. In addition to including contact information, members will also be able to list interests and specialisms as well as current or recent publications. To be included in the Directory, members must complete and return the Directory Form, these have already been circulated by email, but can also be downloaded here. 

In the interim, while the new Directory is compiled, the old Member's Register is still available (though we recognise that some of the contact information listed is out of date - this will be addressed in the new Directory).

June 2011

CPD Course Calendar 2011

The CPD course calendar for 2011 has been finalised and can be downloaded here.

Upcoming courses include:

• Communicating Archaeology I and II
• Transferable Skills
• Deposition and Archiving
• An Introduction to Conservation Plans

With the exception of Communicating Archaeology I (which is a free course) all course will cost €30 for members, €15 for students/unwaged members and €45 for non-members.

March 2011

CPD Co-ordinator and Administrator

IAI is pleased to announce the appointment of our new CPD Co-ordinator and Administrator, Ms Christine Baker. Christine has already hard at work and can be contacted via the main IAI email address, info@iai.ie.

Annual Subscriptions and Membership Profile

Members are reminded that subscriptions for the year 2011-2012 are due since 1 March. Members can download the 2011-2012 remittance notice here, though hard copies will be posted to all members also. IAI will accept direct electronic payments using online banking as well as standing order; a standing order form can be downloaded here. Members are reminded that if paying by standing order or electronic transfer to ensure that the transaction information includes their name for ease of tracking and confirming payments.

IAI is also undertaking a profile of its current membership, survey forms are being circulated by post, but can also be downloaded here. All members are asked to participate in the survey.

February 2011

The Archaeological Profession in Ireland:
A one-day workshop hosted by the Heritage Council to identify future possibilities

The Heritage Council invites members of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) and other interested archaeologists to develop a process attempting to initiate the revival of the archaeological profession.  This process will commence with a meeting at the offices of the Heritage Council, Áras na hOidhreachta, Church Lane, Kilkenny at 11.00am on Tuesday, 8th of March 2011. 

The Heritage Council has consistently encouraged participation in our archaeological heritage. In the current circumstances, the Heritage Council will promote the sustainable development of the archaeological profession in Ireland and accordingly, the Heritage Council will work with the profession to ensure that it meets its current challenges.

Places are limited, so early booking is advised. Download the workshop information sheet here.

European Union pursues legal action while state reduces numbers of archaeologists engaged in regulation

The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) has issued a public statment following on from the initiation of legal proceedings by the European Commission against the Irish State over its failure to properly implement a farming environmental directive.

The full statement can be downloaded here.

First Aid for Finds Workshop

The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) in conjunction with the National Museum of Ireland has organised a one-day workshop on the treatment and management of artefact assemblages from excavations.The workshop will take place at the National Museum, Collins Barracks on Thursday 10 March 2011.

Places are limited to 12 so early booking is advised. For more information, download the workshop information sheet.

Spring 2011 Issue of IAI News

Members are invited to submit short articles for the next issue of IAI News. The revised deadline for proposals is 11 March 2011. For more information or to access previous issues, please see here.

Spring Conference & AGM 2011

The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) Spring Conference 2011 will take place in the Central Hotel, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2 on 1-2 April 2011. The AGM will take place at 4pm on Saturday 2 April as part of the conference.

The conference will open on Thursday 31 March with a keynote address from Dr Charlotte Roberts (Durham University). This will take place at the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson St, Dublin 2 and admission to this lecture will be free.

The full conference programme and abstacts for the papers to be presented can be downloaded from the conference information page.

January 2011

Call for Papers: Spring Conference 2011

The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) Spring Conference 2011 will take place in the Central Hotel, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2 on 1-2 April 2011.

Papers are invited on the theme of 'Archaeology and Science'.

This conference will explore the impact that scientific developments have on archaeology, specifically the ways in which we identify sites, excavate, record, conserve and interpret.  Papers on all aspects of archaeological science are welcome, from dating methods to archaeometallurgy to palynology to conservation.  We invite both specialists from all disciplines to present their data analysis and also excavators who have relied on various scientific methodologies to successfully interpret their sites.  This conference provides the opportunity to compare and contrast the wide variety of techniques available to archaeologists and to discover the diverse cutting-edge research currently underway.

Submissions are also open for 10 minute presentations on current and recently submitted post-graduate research, all topics welcome.

All proposals and abstracts (max. 300 words) should be submitted to the conference organisor, Kerri Cleary by Friday 11 February 2011.

December 2010

Winter Solstice to mark bleak year for Irish archaeology

The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) has issued a press release responding to the impact of Budget 2011 on heritage services.

As people in Ireland and globally watch events on December 21st in Newgrange and wait for the first light of dawn to penetrate the chamber of the famous Neolithic tomb, the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) notes that draconian cuts to spending announced in last week’s budget will have a severe effect on archaeology in Ireland. 

An unprecedented cut to heritage spending has been announced in Budget 2011. IAI is concerned that these cuts will have an immediate and long-lasting impact on the heritage sector and communities around the country and will mean that archaeologists and other heritage professionalswill endure a bleak 2011.

Download the complete statement here.

IAI CPD Co-ordinator and Administrator

The Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) is seeking to appoint a CPD Co-ordinator and Administrator. For more information or to download the Job Specification and Application Form see here. The deadline for applications is 4pm on 17 December 2010.

November 2010

IAI News, Series 2, Volume 4: Autumn 2010

The latest issue of the institutes newsletter - IAI News - has been published and can be downloaded here.

October 2010

JIA Special Offer - available at Autumn Conference 2010

Purchase your missing JIA’s

Each ‘bundle' for €40/£36 (r.r.p. €60/£54)

Bundle 1- Vol I (1983); Vol IV (1987/8) & Vol V (1989/90)
Bundle 2 – Vol VI (1991/2); Vol VII (1996) & Vol VIII (1997)
Bundle 3 – Vol IX (1998); Vol X (2001) & Vol XI (2002)

Or Buy any 2 journals Get 1 FREE

Pre-conference order to: info@iai.ie

September 2010

Our Email Address is changing

The IAI is changing its primary email address. From September 2010 onwards we will be phasing out the use of our old eircom.net address. All outgoing correspondence will issue from our new primary email address info@iai.ie; all email correspondence to the Institute or its board should be sent to this address also. We would advise all members to update and change their address books and contact lists.

IAI Autumn Conference 2010

The IAI Autumn Conference 2010 will take place on 5-6 November at the Days Hotel, Belfast. The theme of the conference will be 'A season of excavations: before, during and after'. 

This conference will focus on current research that is primarily based on archaeological excavation and fieldwork.  Papers can draw on both new and old excavations, with comparisons and contrasts of various techniques welcomed, particularly the ways in which modern technology have altered the archaeological experience.  From the three stages of preparation to on-site work to reporting/publication what is required to ensure a successful season of excavation or fieldwork? How do we deal with ‘unexpected’ results on site and what thought should we give to formation processes and environmental influences?   Finally, what are we ultimately aiming to achieve once the record is back in the office and the off-site work progresses? 

Post-graduate Research
Following on from the success at the 2010 Spring Conference submissions are also open for 10 minute presentations on current and recently submitted post-graduate research, with all topics welcome.

Proposals for papers (abstracts max. 300 words) should be submitted to the conference organiser Kerri Cleary by 4 October.

Workshop on Fixed Price Contracts

A workshop on Fixed Price Contracts will take place on 24 September at the Maldron Hotel, Portlaoise; admission is €10 for members and €20 for non-members.

A more detailed programme will be circulated shortly..

CPD Course on Pottery Identification

A CPD course 'An introductory workshop on the identification and analysis of early medieval, medieval and post medieval ceramics' will take place on Friday 17 September 2010, in the Dept. of Archaeology, UCC. The course will be lead by Ian Doyle, Clare McCutcheon, Rosanne Meenan and Joanna Wren. 

Participation is limited to a maximum of 15 places, please contact Clare McCutcheon to reserve a place.

August 2010

In Memoriam: Professor Barry Raftery

It is with great sadness that IAI notes the death of Professor Barry Raftery of UCD. He will be sorely missed both as a colleague and as a mentor. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Relocation of National Monuments Service

The National Monuments Service have relocated from their previous offices at Dun Sceine and are now based in the Custom House, Dublin 1. A notice with revised contact information for them can be downloaded here.

Introduction to Landscape Character Assessment (LCA)

This award-winning, two day multi-disciplinary CPD training module is an initiative of the Heritage Council of Ireland, developed in partnership with Clare County Council, Engineers Ireland (EI), Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI), Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM), Irish Landscape Institute (ILI), Irish Planning Institute (IPI), the Landscape Observatory of Catalonia, the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA), the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). 

The next course will take place on 22-23 September at Spanish Point and Tulla County Clare. Immediate booking is advised - the booking form can be downloaded here.

June 2010

The Spring issue of IAI News can now be downloaded here. Low resolution copies will be circulated to all members by email shortly.

May 2010

The National Museum of Ireland gave a detailed presentation to the recent IAI Spring Conference on the Collections Resource Centre, which is under development at Swords to house the artefacts and ecofacts from archaeological excavations as well as the Museums other collections. A section of the facility will be provided to the National Monuments Service to house both their archives and also the archives from archaeological excavations. This presentation can be downloaded here.

The National Museum of Ireland has also issued a revised set of Advice Notes for Excavators, which can be downloaded here. The National Museum would welcome any submissions or comments on the new set of Advice Notes on or by 16 June 2010. Please forward comments to the duty officer

March 2010

Landscape Character Assessment -  Inter Institutional CPD Course 

March 2010
IAI CPD Course:
Archaeobotanical samples - how, where, what and when to sample on a range of archaeological sites

Workshop participants were (L to R) Shane Delaney, Vera Rahilly, Judith Carroll, Cóilin O'Drisceoil and Dr Scott Timpany (Trainer)


The CPD workshop entitled 'Archaeobotanical samples - how, where, what and when to sample on a range of archaeological sites' took place in Luce Hall, Botany Department, Trinity College Dublin on Friday 5th March 2010. The partners in the collaborative event were IAI, Irish Wood Anatomists Association (IWAA) and Irish Archaeobotany Discussion Group (IADG). The awareness raising workshop was well attended and the trainers included Susan Lyons, Dr Meriel McClatchie, Mick Monk, Ellen O'Carroll, Lorna O'Donnell, Dr Ingelise Stuijts and Dr Scott Timpany.



Workshop participants were (L to R) Dr Meriel McClatchie (Trainer), James Hession and Mick Monk (Trainer)


Workshop participants were (L to R) Lorna O'Donnell (Trainer), Fintan Walsh, Shane Delaney and Dr Ingelise Stujts (Trainer)

Archaeology and the Planning Process at the Local Authority Level - 
IAI CPD Course January 2010

The CPD seminar entitled 'Archaeology and the Planning Process at the Local Authority Level' took place in City Hall, Cork on Friday 29th January 2010. The seminar was well attended and the trainers included Ciara Brett (Cork City Council), Pat Holland (South Tipperary County Council), Sarah McCutcheon (Limerick County Council) and Mary Sleeman (Cork County Council). The venue was kindly sponsored by Cork City Council.

Some of the seminar participants were (L to R) Emmet Byrnes, Heidi Jacobsen, Ciara Brett (Trainer), Avril Hayes, Fran Wilkinson, Mairead McLaughlin, Michael Holland, Margaret McNamara, Jacinta Kiely, Sarah McCutcheon (Trainer), Mary Sleeman (Trainer), Ross MacLeod, Eamon Cotter, Pat Holland (Trainer) and Jerry O'Sullivan.2 September 2009