Cois tSiúire—Nine Thousand Years of Human Activity in the Lower Suir Valley
Edited by James Eogan and Elizabeth Shee Twohig, Cois tSiúire—Nine Thousand Years of Human Activity in the Lower Suir Valley presents the results from over 60 significant archaeological excavations on the route of the N25 Waterford City Bypass, which revealed that humans have lived in this part of the Lower Suir Valley from the time of the earliest hunter-gatherers onwards. Among the discoveries were an early seventh-century AD vertical watermill at Killoteran, the earliest such mill yet identified in Ireland, and the internationally significant, ninth-century AD Viking settlement uncovered at Woodstown.
Cois tSiúire (‘beside or alongside the Suir’) contains excavation summaries written by the excavation directors, which are complemented by a series of specialist overviews that place the discoveries in their regional, national and international contexts. The authors demonstrate that from the earliest times the Lower Suir Valley was home to vibrant communities who were outward-looking and dynamic, and who benefitted from the natural advantages provided by the varied landscapes and resources available ‘alongside the Suir’.
ISBN 978-0-9564180-3-6
In the Lowlands of South Galway
Written by Finn Delaney and John Tierney, In the Lowlands of South Galway describes over 20 archaeological sites excavated by Eachtra Archaeological Projects on the route of the N18 Oranmore to Gort road scheme, which traverses a landscape in which human communities have come and gone for 10,000 years. The plain where their lives unfolded was a constant backdrop, a mosaic of grasslands, hazel woods and karstic limestone bedrock, with an indented Atlantic coastline, all overlooked by Sliabh Aughty and the Burren.
The excavations are individually described in this book but the authors also try to understand the evidence from each period in its broad landscape setting and thus offer the reader a bird’s-eye view of life on the lowland plain of South Galway, from prehistory to modern times. Published in June 2011, this handsome new volume is accompanied by a CD containing the relevant final excavation reports and other technical information.
ISBN 978-0-9564180-4-3
Of Troughs and Tuyères: the archaeology of the N5 Charlestown Bypass
Written by Richard Gillespie and Agnes Kerrigan, Of Troughs and Tuyères is a regionally significant and visually impressive book dealing with the results of more than 40 excavations carried out by Mayo County Council archaeologists in advance of the construction of the N5 Charlestown Bypass in east Mayo.
Published in December 2010, this new monograph presents an exploration of six millennia of human activity evidenced by Neolithic structures, well-preserved Bronze Age fulachtaí fia (also known as ancient cooking sites), early medieval enclosed settlements and 19th-century vernacular buildings. The discoveries have reconstructed past landscapes, revealed ancient contact with the wider world and provided significant insights into past technologies and crafts. The fascinating sites revealed in Of Troughs and Tuyères highlight the key role that the West of Ireland plays in the unfolding archaeological story of this island.
ISBN 978-0-9564180-1-2
Places Along the Way: first findings on the M3
Edited by Mary B Deevy and Donald Murphy, Places Along the Way represents a considerable milestone for the National Roads Authority as it is the fifth publication in its scheme-specific monograph series and is the first monograph dedicated to the excavation results from the M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway scheme.
Published in December 2009, this new book presents substantial accounts of and reflections on eight of the most significant sites excavated on the M3 motorway between Dunboyne and Navan in County Meath—an area incorporating the broader landscape around the Hill of Tara. The chapters describing the individual sites in this volume are all interim statements written while post-excavation research was continuing; however, many of the conclusions tentatively proposed in the new book are unlikely to be radically altered by further research. While the evidence from the sites concentrates heavily on the early medieval period, there are also substantial traces of prehistoric and later medieval activity. The book also contains an important contribution to the documentary evidence for later medieval settlement in Meath.
ISBN 978-0-9564180-0-5
In the Shadow of the Galtees: archaeological excavations along the N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown Road Scheme
Written by Melanie McQuade, Bernice Molloy and Colm Moriarty, In the Shadow of the Galtees is the fourth publication in the National Roads Authority scheme-specific monograph series and was published in November 2009. This new book brings together the results of archaeological investigations on the route of the N8 Cashel to Mitchelstown road scheme in County Tipperary undertaken by Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.
The construction of this new road led to the discovery of a great many significant, previously unidentified, archaeological sites that have added a new depth to our knowledge of South Tipperary. The book describes the fascinating sites and artefacts that were uncovered and explores how these discoveries reflect the changing needs, tastes, and even political allegiances of the people who lived in this area over the last 5,000 years. The most significant discoveries described in the book are 24 Bronze Age structures (between 4,000 and 2,600 years old). This is the largest number of Bronze Age buildings discovered to date on any single road scheme in Ireland. In the Shadow of the Galtees is attractively produced with full-colour illustrations throughout and comes with a CD-ROM incorporating all of the final excavation and specialist reports. Not only will this book appeal to anyone who is fascinated about our past, it will also be of immense interest to people from the Tipperary region.
ISBN 978-0-9545955-9-3
Near the Bend in the River: the archaeology of the N25 Kilmacthomas realignment
Written by Penny Johnston, Jacinta Kiely and John Tierney, Near the Bend in the River is the third publication in the National Roads Authority scheme-specific monograph series and was published at the end of 2008. This new book brings together the results of archaeological investigations on the route of the N25 Kilmacthomas realignment in County Waterford undertaken by Eachtra Archaeological Projects between 1998 and 2000. This led to the first use of extensive pre-construction test excavations on an Irish road scheme.
The excavations resulted in the identification of traces of past human activity in 30 separate areas along the length of this new road. Before this work only a single fulacht fiadh, or burnt mound, was known along the line of the realignment. The remains uncovered range from the nationally significant discovery of the foundation post-holes of a building constructed almost 4,500 years ago by people who used highly decorated Beaker pottery to the locally significant identification of a field system probably associated with the development of the settlement of Kilmacthomas in the medieval period. The excavations revealed almost continuous human activity in this part of Waterford during the last six millennia and the findings are presented in the form of a gazetteer, with an accompanying CD-ROM incorporating all of the final excavation and specialist reports.
ISBN 978-0-9545955-8-6
The Archaeology of Life and Death in the Boyne Floodplain: the linear landscape of the M4
Written by Neil Carlin, Linda Clarke and Fintan Walsh and published by the National Roads Authority in August 2008, this monograph is the second publication in the NRA scheme-specific monograph series. This publication brings together the results of the extensive archaeological work that was undertaken on the M4 Kinnegad–Enfield–Kilcock motorway scheme (M4 KEK) prior to the commencement of construction. This new publication represents a substantial contribution to our understanding of the early medieval period in particular but also of the early Iron Age and of later developments. The great scope of work presented in this monograph is indicative of the professionalism and enthusiasm of all of the archaeologists involved in the project. An accompanying CD-ROM to the publication incorporates various final excavation and specialist reports.
ISBN 978-0-9545955-5-5
Monumental Beginnings: the archaeology of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road
Written by Ed Danaher and published by the National Roads Authority in December 2007, Monumental Beginings is the first publication in the new NRA scheme-specific monograph series. This publication details the results of discovery and archaeological excavation along the route of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road. Investigations in 2003 by Archaeological Consultancy Services Ltd and initial testing and excavation by Mary Henry Archaeological Services Ltd in 2001 resulted in the discovery of a number of significant prehistoric sites, including that of a causewayed enclosure dating to the Early Neolithic period, around 4000 BC. These discoveries add to the archaeological heritage of a region already well-known for its upstanding monuments. An accompanying CD-ROM to the publication incorporates final excavation and specialist reports.
ISBN 978-0-9545955-4-8
All of the monographs mentioned above are available through bookshops or directly from Wordwell Books (e-mail: helen@wordwellbooks.com; Tel: +353 1 2947860) at €25 each.