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Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,
Mr. John Gormley, T.D. has endorsed the Final Report of the
Working Group on the future preservation and archaeological
investigation of the Viking Age national monument at Woodstown,
Co. Waterford.
Minister Gormley stated - “I am indebted to the Group for
their professionalism and hard work in producing their Final
Report. The report recommendations, which I wholeheartedly
endorse, deal with both the immediate security of the site
and its ongoing protection - but also with its ongoing research
potential. The latter is again indicative of the role I see
Irish archaeology playing in terms of the dissemination of
knowledge to as wide an audience as possible, both within
specialist research and academic circles, but also - and just
as importantly - in the general public domain.
"I initiated the Department’s review of archaeological
policy and practice late last year on just such a basis and
the Woodstown report reinforces the importance of this principle
to my mind. The report is another important stepping stone
in the advancement of the south-eastern region in built heritage
terms and one on which I am confident will successfully be
taken forward again on a co-operative basis. I am making the
report publicly available on the Department’s new dedicated
archaeological website - www.archaeology.ie
“
The Working Group was established by the Minister in 2005,
following the discovery of the Woodstown site during routine
archaeological investigations ahead of the construction of
the N25 Waterford City-Bypass in 2003. The group includes
the Director of the National Museum, Dr. Pat Wallace, as well
as representatives from Waterford City and County Councils,
the Heritage Council, the National Roads Authority and the
Department’s Chief Archaeologist, Brian Duffy.
An Interim Report by the Working Group was previously approved
by the Minister in June 2006. That report recommended the
carrying-out of a supplementary research project to more firmly
establish the nature, extent and significance of the Woodstown
site. The Final Report incorporates this supplementary project
and confirms that the site dates from the Viking Period of
the 9th - 10th centuries and was a major trading and manufacturing
centre.
There are no upstanding remains at the national monument
site, which borders the River Suir at Woodstown and which
is enclosed by two contiguous D-shaped ditch and bank defences.
Research to-date concludes that the site was occupied by a
distinctive Scandinavian community in the 9th and 10th centuries.
This settlement existed for a considerable amount of time
and involved at least several phases of activity, settlement
or resettlement.
The Woodstown settlement, though armed and with some military
aspects, appears to have been a significant centre for manufacturing
and trade. Significant quantities of lead weights, silver
and rotary sharpening stones - as well as the discovery of
one of the best furnished Viking graves ever found in Ireland,
containing a sword and silver - mark the site as being a major
trading and manufacturing centres of Scandinavian origin on
the south-east coast of Ireland.
The Minister agreed with the Working Group’s recommendation
that the site, presently in private ownership, should be placed
on the statutory Record of Historic Monuments - affording
it protection under the National Monuments Acts. Any works
proposed at the site would thus require two months prior written
notice being made to the Minister. Discussions will be held
with the site’s owner to ensure its ongoing protection - but,
as the site is not considered to be under imminent threat,
the making of a preservation order is not considered necessary
at this time by the Minister.
Other site protection and security recommendations endorsed
by Minister Gormley in the shorter-term include discussions
with the private landowner with a view to agreeing an appropriate
conservation plan, the initiation of a survey by the Office
of Public Works on the adequacy of site fencing, continued
site inspection and the erection of NMS staff appropriate
public signage at the site now considered to be a national
monument.
In terms of the site’s research and archaeological investigation
in the medium to longer-term, the report recommends the development
of a multi-disciplinary research agenda for the site, the
holding of an international conference in Waterford to publish
the results of the research to-date on Woodstown, the production
of a public information booklet and the pursuance of educational
aspects of the site.
Though there are no archaeological remains visible, its full
excavation is not recommended by the Working Group and, as
such, the site is being preserved in situ. Moreover,
the Working Group does not recommend the development of any
intrusive heritage tourism-related measures such as the building
of a visitor centre in the short to medium-term as further
aspects of the site may be unlocked by subsequent targetted
research initiatives. However, there may be scope at some
stage in the future for the public to view research archaeologists
working on-site - possibly from the tourist railway running
alongside the site.
Minister Gormley said - “I concur with the Working Group
that the Woodstown site is of major national and international
significance. It is considered by the experts to be one of
the most productive sites of early medieval date ever discovered
in Ireland and may well shed light on the earliest Irish urbanisation
and on the origins of our towns. I hope this site will, over
time, open further the window of knowledge onto Viking Age
Ireland.”
Summary of Final Report Recommendations
Short Term
- National Monuments Service (NMS) to place site on statutory
Register of Historic Monuments
- NMS to keep under review need to make a preservation order
for site
- NMS/Waterford County Council to discuss with landowner
possible grazing agreement, security measures, potential
guardianship / acquisition, etc - with view to agreeing
appropriate conservation plan
- NRA to agree with Waterford County Council taking in charge
of and security measures for access road to site
- NMS to initiate OPW fencing survey of site and provision
of any additional fencing recommended at DEHLG expense
- Continued periodic inspection of site by Waterford based
NMS staff
- NMS/OPW to erect information/warning notices that site
is national monument
- National Museum of Ireland and Waterford Museum of Treasures
to agree on display of Woodstown artefacts locally.
Medium/Longer Term
- Produce public information booklet on the national monument
(NMS/l.a.s)
- Produce a unified publication on archaeological investigations
related to the site – original by-pass route and realignment,
WG Supplementary Research Project material, etc. (NMS/NRA
etc.)
- Formulate a research agenda for site – proponents may
bid for DEHLG funding under new 2008 Archaeological Research
Fund (L.a.s, research community etc.)
- Explore potential of public viewing of any on-site archaeological
research (as above)
- Hosting of an international conference on Woodstown by
Waterford City Council
- Explore educational aspects of site (L.a.s/NMS/educational
institutions etc.)
- Explore linkages with WCC Project 2014 etc. (Local authorities/Failte
Ireland)
- Review any possible heritage related development on site
(subject to research outcome, site ownership etc.).
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