2006 IRISH SCIENTIST YEAR BOOK

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Institute of Technology, Sligo
Marion Dowd
New BSc degree in Applied Archaeology at I.T. Sligo

Student excavating medieval burials at Kilteasheen, Knockvicar, Co Roscommon.

Over the past decade the demand for archaeologists in Ireland has grown exponentially, primarily due to large-scale NRA infrastructural programmes and other development led projects. Hundreds of new archaeological sites have been discovered and excavated which in turn creates increased scientific analysis and conservation of archaeological material such as human remains, animal bones and artefacts. For the past number of years, there has been a serious lack of trained archaeologists in this country, with large numbers of archaeologists from outside Ireland being employed.

The Applied Archaeology programme at IT Sligo is a four year honours degree course and the only BSc in archaeology offered in the Republic of Ireland. It combines all of the components associated with other archaeology degree programmes and a thorough introduction to the application of modern scientific methods and analysis within the discipline. However, the course is practically orientated with the goal of providing the student with hands on experience in all areas of archaeological investigation � both in the laboratory and in the field.

Over the four years of the course, students will study the past 10,000 years of human activity in Ireland from prehistoric Mesolithic hunter gatherers through to the industrial buildings of the 19th century. Students go on regular fieldtrips to visit archaeological monuments, excavation sites and museums throughout the country. The archaeological sciences are introduced in 1st year and developed in later years involving topics as diverse as the chemical analysis of Iron Age bog bodies; conservation of underwater wrecks; DNA and Viking populations and the processes involved in Medieval metalworking. The degree also includes hands-on courses in geophysics, archaeological surveying, GIS, GPS, computing and excavation techniques. These skills are invaluable for those entering the employment market.

After Year 1, all students spend four weeks on the IT training excavation at Kilteasheen, Co. Roscommon. The site is a High Medieval Gaelic lordly site situated on the shores of Lough Key. The excavation to date has focused on the possible location of a 13th century medieval cuirt or palace. While definite traces of this structure have yet to be identified, the site has yielded a wealth of archaeological finds and materials including beautifully decorated architectural stone fragments, over 40 Medieval burials and associated artefacts and a substantial prehistoric horizon with over 150 stone flakes and tools. IT Sligo is the only archaeological degree course in Ireland to provide such a substantial period of excavation training. Students learn how to excavate, record archaeological features and survey. Back in the lab the following academic year, students are involved in processing, analysing and interpreting the material that was excavated during the summer.

Contact:Contact: Dr Marion Dowd,
Applied Archaeology,
Dept. Environmental Science,
Institute of Technology Sligo, Sligo.
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: 071 9155 255. Fax: 087 6632 422