Its not long since Google Streetview went live in Ireland, and we had a quick look at a few of the archaeological sites it allows the more rain-averse archaeological enthusiasts to peruse, but Google shows no sign of stopping there. Besides adding significantly to their detailed satellite imagery of Ireland, they have also sent their Streetview trike to a number of major tourist attractions, including a fair few old ones, around Ireland to give us a trikes-eye view. 

I haven't gone through the full list but a quick look at the Rock of Cashel and Dublin Castle shows the potential, particularly handy if you can't get to a particular site and you need to check architectural features, something about its landscape setting, or you just fancy a goo. 

Check after the break for the full list of Irish sites added to Streetview. 

The Early Medieval Archaeology Project is a collaborative research initiative that has been running for a number of years based out of UCD and QUB and funded by the Heritage Council's superb, and endangered, INSTAR research grants. It has just announced the publication of its latest round of reports on settlements in Early Medieval Ireland as well as a revision of its intimidating Bibliography of Early Medieval Archaeology in Ireland. These are massively important pieces of work, particularly for researchers, and there are few parallels for this kind of work outside of Ireland.

The project has been releasing reports on its work annually for the last couple of years and their work has involved the (figurative) surveying of pretty much every site ever excavated dating to the Early Medieval period in Ireland, particularly settlement sites. All of this will be drawn together in a forthcoming monograph to be published by the Royal Irish Academy. You can read more about it on the EMAP website, Facebook page and blog. 

This kind of synthetic and exhaustive consideration of the archaeological evidence from Ireland is one of the massively positive results of the Celtic Tiger boom and developer-funded archaeology. It, and other projects like it, have already begun, based on the abundance of sites excavated in the last two decades, to transform the way we understand periods like the Iron Age and Early Medieval period in Ireland. Hopefully the minuscule amount of money required to undertake more such research isn't withdrawn by the government in the coming years, thus squandering the massive amount of money, sweat and back-problems put into generating so much of the grey literature that makes this kind of research possible. 

I am genuinely humbled to find that the blog has been shortlisted for the Irish Blog Awards 2011 in the Education/Science category. This is a surprise on a number of fronts, but mainly because I still find it hard to believe people actually read my ramblings, never mind value them in some small way. 

The blog is now listed alongside some seriously impressive blogs that I have long admired. 

• williamoconnor.wordpress.com
• nellatnci.wordpress.com
• anseo-a-mhuinteoir.blogspot.com
• swingingstrings.blogspot.com
• sccenglish.ie
• frogblog.ie
• sciencegallery.com/blog
• liveatthewitchtrials.blogspot.com
• carloweducatetogether.ie

There's no voting involved in the final so I can't organise a campaign or anything but I'll be sure to let you know if the blog wins!

Prof. Steven Mithen gave a seminar recently at the Humanities Institute of Ireland in UCD. It was entitled 'Communal and monumental architecture at the origin of the Neolithic in the Near East: new evidence from Wadi Faynan, Southern Jordan'. 

The lecture is now online as a podcast and can be downloaded from iTunes or listened to on the HII website.  

We will all be treated tonight (7pm, RTE 1) to an entire (Gasp!) programme on Irish archaeology from our beloved national broadcaster.  

The delicious archaeological nugget will come in the form of an episode of Nationwide that will include a piece on the redevelopment of the National Heritage Park in Ferrycarrig (who just launched a Facebook page), a place that appears to be experiencing a welcome renaissance and the location of my experimental smelt last year. 

There will also be a piece detailing the fascinating results of analysis of the archaeological excavations at the infamous Lismullin site, excavated as part of the M3 motorway scheme, by the ever-interesting Frank Prendergast. Finally, we'll see an experimental reconstruction of a fulacht fiadh by a UCC post grad, Alan Hawkes who explores their use as both cooking pits and sweathouses in the light of recent evidence from excavations. I've always liked the thought of using them as breweries myself!

For anyone able to make the trip, I would highly recommend making the trip to Annagassan for a lecture tomorrow by  Eamonn Kelly of the National Museum of Ireland on the recently discovered longphort. I saw him talk about the site before Christmas and it is truly astounding, especially in the context of other longphort sites known around the country.   

Full details are after the break and you can add the event to your calendar by clicking the button below. Apparently a website on the site will also be launched tomorrow which I look forward to seeing. In the meantime there are a few sneak peak photos of the excavation above to whet your appetite. Many thanks to Brian Walsh of the Dundalk Museum for providing the photos!

UPDATE: The website has launched and is available at www.linnduachaill.ie

A lecture entitled “Viking Longphorts in Ireland and the search for the Longphort of Linn Duachaill’  will be given by by Eamon P. Kelly, Keeper of Irish Antiquities at the National Museum will be held at 8.00 p.m.  on Thursday 3rd February 2011, in the Loft History Hall,  (above Slan’s Pub) Annagassan, Co. Louth.  The website on the recent Viking discovery will also be launched.

Eamonn is a member of the Linn Duachaill Research Group responsible for the recent discovery of the site of the historic Viking longphort of Linn Duachaill.  According to Mr Kelly, who will be giving a talk on the discovery on Thursday in Annagassan, “The fortress was built in 841, the same year in which the Viking longphort of Dublin was constructed. It continued to operate as a major Viking base until at 927 when the fleet departed.  The site is the best preserved early Viking site to have been found in Ireland and the nature of its archaeological remains and the history attaching to it makes it a site of major international importance. However, Linn Duachaill is not the only Viking longphort to have been found in Ireland.  In the first of a series of talks by members of the Linn Duachaill Research Group, Mr. Kelly will present evidence for a number of other longphorts that the Vikings built in Ireland.  He will also discuss features relating to their form and location that appear to be shared. Information will be provided on the approaches taken and methodology used to locate the longphort of Linn Duachaill.  All are welcome.  Entry charge is €5.  Any enquiries should be made to Maureen at 086 8308112 or maureen@wardconsulting.ie.

Considering how many former or 'lapsed' archaeologists there are out there in Ireland at a loose end and with the will to move abroad, I figured this might actually be worth posting. 

The (in?)famous archaeology series Time Team is looking for a new presenter to get excited about bits of pots, small walls and other such nerdy things. If you, like me, are one of those people who has literally jumped in excitement at just the thought of finding small stones then you may just be what Time Team are looking for...

You can find all the details by clicking on Read More below, visiting the Past Preservers website and putting your details into their 'Talent Database'. If you do get the job and you're Irish/adopted Irish, do us a favour and come back sometime to sort out our native broadcasters' coverage of Ireland's brilliant archaeology!
 

"“Time Team are currently in production for their 19th series and are looking to make some changes to the on screen team. 

We are looking for a FEMALE co- host, someone who ideally has experience in presenting archaeology, history or anthropology programming. It would also be great to hear about presenters with a proven passion for these subjects, an academic background or otherwise. This person does not have to be overly experienced or knowledgeable as we have plenty of expertise within the existing on and off- screen team, however intelligence, natural curiosity and a passion for Archaeology is a must! Tony Robinson will continue to be the Series Presenter, introduce the programmes and voice them. 

The shoot schedule runs from 4 April to 12 August, with three filming days every other week, tending to fall Tuesday – Thursday with travel days either side. The digs and their locations are still to be confirmed.

We are also looking for someone who has expertise in Computational Archaeology to be an occasional contributor (specific programmes only), explaining all computer output to the presenters and on- screen team (ie. they would not be required to present).

We are looking for a Landscape Archaeologist to be an occasional contributor (for specific programmes only). Again this would be to work with the presenters and the rest of the on- screen team (ie. they would not be required to present).

We are looking for an Archaeologist who would essentially be a digger, spending all three days of every programme in a trench. At least 24 months of full time digging experience would be required.

For these three non- presenter roles we are happy to consider people with or without broadcast experience. What is important is high energy, good rapport with the team and of course to be comfortable on camera”

If you are interested in any of these positions and you are not currently on our talent database, please complete the instructions on our website @ http://www.pastpreservers.com/ourpeople.html
If you are currently on our database please email us @ casting@pastpreservers.com
and let us know what positions you are interested in.

Please note these positions are UK based and you need to be available for the entire shooting period.

Best wishes

The Past Preservers Team"

The National Museum of Ireland is looking for help to track down 'sister replicas' of the life-size casts of Irish High Crosses currently on display in Collin's Barracks, Dublin. The plaster-casts were created a century ago and shipped off around the world to showcase Irish culture and heritage. The Museum has launched a Facebook campaign to locate the current whereabouts of the crosses, starting with a copy of the Monasterboice High Cross sent to Sydney in 1904. 

Get in touch with the Museum through Facebook or Twitter if you can help them find any of the missing crosses!

UPDATE: More info is now up on the Museum website.
 

Money for archaeological or historical research, or - lets be honest - for pretty much anything, is scarce on the ground these days which is why news of the availability of this small but useful grant available from the Kildare Archaeological Society is very welcome. The details are embedded above or you can download the poster.  
  

I would highly recommend having a look at the full video that inspired this post. Its embedded after the break or you can go straight to YouTube.