Reach the Future through the Past 30/07/2010
I'm presenting at a very interesting and unique conference next month in Dundalk. Its not your average archaeology conference, in fact I'm probably the only archaeologist speaking at it but it will be exploring some interesting ideas about approaching the future through the lens of the past. See below for the official blurb.  Future Trk crosses Past St The County Museum, Dundalk, is hosting a one-day conference, Reach the Future through the Past, on Wednesday 25 August 2010. The conference will explore the use of innovation in a heritage setting, and will examine new ways of promoting concepts of heritage and identity through the use of new technologies. The conference title is inspired by a line in Paul Brady’s The Island, and the purpose of the conference is to apply new ways of cultural and commercial thinking to Irish identity and to the historic Irish experience. Conference organiser, Brian Walsh: “Last year, the Global Irish Conference held at Farmleigh attracted representatives of the Irish diaspora and the CEOs of several multinational companies. One of the remarkable features of the conference was that the large number of CEOs who chose to attend the cultural – rather than the business - workshops. This is what gave me the idea that we should explore this theme further. The purpose of our conference here in Dundalk is to find ways of seeking inspiration from the past, and to find new ways of applying and presenting this.” One of the main themes of the day will be how to innovatively promote and popularize history, identity, archaeology and culture to wider audiences. The international panel of speakers is drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds: academia, archaeology, animation, broadcasting and business. Speakers include Mary Hawkes-Green (founder, Burren College Art and Design); Brian Dolan (founder, seandalaiocht.com); Ciaran McGuinness (Archer Heritage Planning); Paul Young (co-founder Cartoon Saloon and producer of The Secret of Kells); and Yanky Fachler (historian, business trainer, and author of 6 Officers, 2 Lions, and 750 Mules). Admission to the conference is free, but prior booking is essential. For all enquiries, please contact Brian Walsh at the County Museum, Dundalk,+353 42-9327056, Brian.Walsh@dundalktown.ie. 1 Comment Dublin Wheel gets to the Point 27/07/2010
 Ok, so its not strictly archaeology but since I can see it out the window from where I sit writing archaeology I figure its allowed. Feast your eyes on the unimaginatively named 'Dublin Wheel', a stunted cousin of London's famous eye. It has been rising beside the Point Theatre for the last few weeks but the spokes only arrived at the weekend. I heard a rumour that it was taken from under the noses of our northern neighbours in Belfast, maybe there was a bit of trouble smuggling it out? It has yet, as far as I'm aware, to acquire a witty moniker from Dublin's denizens but I'm sure that won't last long. Suggestions in the comments please!  The NRA have announced the schedule for their annual public seminar. This is an important event that has grown very popular in recent years, last year's was packed out and had some really high quality talks (the resulting publication will be published at this year's seminar). This year's title is fairly ambiguous but is probably an attempt to tap in to the current recession zeitgeist. I'll be attending and would recommend it to anyone with any interest in archaeology, amateur or professional. Having it on a Thursday might be considered restrictive for those with full time jobs but considering how few people have them nowadays (particularly archaeologists), I suppose it makes sense. Click Read More for full programme and details on how to register (its free). View Some Dublin Graveyards in a larger map A new blog has been launched inviting feedback on the future of St James's Graveyard, Dublin 8. The graveyard dates back to a little after the Norman invasion of Ireland in the twelfth century but went out of use in the twentieth century. The land is to be transferred to Dublin City Council and, laudably, they are consulting the wider public about how the space should be treated.  Wolfe Tone Square There are a number of old graveyards dotted around Dublin city which can easily be missed. Two better known ones include the Huguenot Cemetery off St Stephen's Green and the old graveyard beside Donnybrook Garda Station. These are little-used spaces, relatively inaccessible to the public, but they do preserve a certain solitude and dignity which can sometimes be lost when graveyards fall out of use. Wolf Tone Square, formerly the graveyard of St Mary's church on the corner of Jervis Street and Mary Street is a case in point. After the graveyard's decline in the twentieth century its gravestones were removed and piled, rather forlornly, against the wall at the south end, where they remain today apart from a fe set into the ground. Recent redevelopment of the graveyard as a public square has been less than successful. A bland, non-interactive design combining with its use as a drinking spot to make it a non-destination for Dubliners even during the day.  Gravestones piled at the end of the square Its difficult to know what to do with cemeteries when they go out of use, modern sensibilities cringe at the thought of 'walking on graves' although our ancestors had no such qualms, often holding markets and fairs on what was often a very convenient open space. I'm not sure what should be done with St James's graveyard but i hope the solution is neither as bland as Wolfe Tone Square nor as inaccessible as the Huguenot Cemetery. A blend of modern use with a respect for the past is usually the best approach. Graveyards are always fascinating and often very tranquil places, maybe preserving these two assets should be the main goal of the Council when planning for the future of St James's graveyard. National Monuments Database Major Update 16/07/2010
 I just got news of a major update to the archaeology.ie national monuments database. Some 55,000 summary descriptions of sites have been transferred from the published surveys and inventories and are now accessible online through a map-based interface. This is a great, if often not reliable, resource and apparently there is a major update, presumably similar to the OSI mapping interface coming early next year. All they need to do now is get publishing that grey literature alongside all the summary descriptions. Click Read More for full details. An Introduction to Slag for Archaeologists 14/07/2010
Two New Dig Blogs From County Meath 12/07/2010
View Archaeology Digs 2010 in a larger map I'd like to draw people's attention to the blogs of two ongoing excavations from county Meath. One, taking place at Bective abbey is in its second year of blogging (it was featured in the Irish Times last year) , and the other, based on an excavation in Rossnaree in the Boyne Valley has only been online a matter of weeks. You can follow the, generally daily, updates for a fascinating insight into two ongoing research excavations. Sure you could even visit if you manage to drag yourself away from the internet for a few hours.. Archaeological Wallabies on Lambay Island 08/07/2010
 Flicking through my photographic archive of generally forgettable snaps I came across a batch from my Masters fieldwork on Lambay Island, off the coast of Dublin. I spent a week on the Island surveying the flint resources on its beaches for my thesis and along the way got to visit the Lutyens-designed castle (no photos unfortunately!) and catch a glimpse of some of the wildlife.  Wallaby Camouflage Lambay is home to lots of wild birds, rabbits, deer, seals and, a little unexpectedly, a flock? of wallabies. These furry creatures are surprisingly difficult to spot despite the fact they are clearly a little out of place on an Irish off-shore island. I had to wait until my last day of fieldwork to spot them and only managed to get one shot  Wallabus Hibernicus Lambayicus before they hopped it. You can see the shot above and a close up to the right. Obviously this post hasn't been strictly archaeological thus far so I've attached a few more-or-less archaeo/landscapy shots from my Lambay trip. For the record my hair has subsequently been shorn and I'm an awful lot less scruffy now. Most of the time anyhow.. My work on Lambay was published with Gabriel Cooney this year in the Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy.             | What?A site about Irish archaeology: conferences; links; opinions; news; information and the internet.      Click here for events calendar
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