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The 'secrets and treasures' of the Hill of Tara are
set to be revealed following the most extensive survey of
the area in recent years.
The Discovery
Programme, which is funded by the Heritage Council,
is using non-invasive geophysical surveys of the hill as an
aid to try and decipher what made Tara so important to our
ancestors.
The geophysical survey of the one-time seat of the High Kings
of Ireland is a collaboration with NUI Galway.
Senior lecturer in archaeology at NUI Galway - and expert
on the Tara Skryne Valley - Conor Newman said the work on
Tara has never stopped and "there is a commitment to cover
as much land as possible with the geophysical survey".
Mr Newman said the current work on Tara is significant because
the concentration of monuments at Tara was exceptional and
made it inconceivable there were not more to be found in the
area.
The team of scientists will be working on Tara until the
end of the month and will also survey privately-owned lands
adjacent to the monument.
"It is very important people realise that the monument complex
of Tara is not restricted to just to the top of the hill and
(realise) that there are lots of monuments outside that as
well and that the modern hedgerow and roads are just that
- modern."
Mr Newman, who has spent 18 years studying Tara, said he
was confident archaeologists had only scratched the surface
at Tara. The work on Tara will go on for generations to come
and, like all landscapes, "it has the potential to enrich
our lives".
The archaeologist was also adamant that Tara should become
a UNESCO world heritage site. "I would think it merits that
in terms of its importance nationally and internationally,
but I feel quite strongly we ought to be able to look after
our cultural landscapes ourselves first and foremost. We shouldn’t
have to rely on an international badge to look after our own
affairs.
"We need to do the right thing by this and other landscapes.
If history has told us anything, it is you need consultation,
consultation and more consultation."
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