GALWAY'S HERITAGE OIDHREACHT NA GAILLIMHE GALWAY'S ...

Ireland’s Maritime Archaeology: Our Ancient Coastal
Landscapes – A publication of the Heritage Council
The significance of Ireland’s Maritime Archaeology has only
begun to be understood and appreciated in the main, over
the last thirty years or so. Though there has always been
some awareness, the interest has increased exponentially
in recent decades and we are now seeing inventories of
ship wrecks in Irish coastal waters being published and
important new pilot schemes on GIS and Irish Coastal
Heritage underway. The latter study under the auspices of
the Heritage Council is being undertaken in the areas
covered by Galway City Council, Galway County Council,
Clare County Council along with Kerry and Fingal County
Council. This Pilot Scheme will get underway during
Summer 2010 with Heritage Council Funding. Surveys of
traditional boats have also been completed for Galway City
and for much of County Galway, Fingal and other areas –
again with Heritage Council Funding. One of the easiest
ways of demonstrating the increased interest which has
occurred in matters maritime over the past few decades is
to dip into the massive tome entitled Biblio Mara which
was published in 2005 by the Heritage Council.
The publication under review is miniscule in size by
comparison of course, but is a wonderful addition to the
range of short succinct group of heritage related booklets
produced by the Heritage Council. It is a useful publication
which should help immensely in the promotion of
awareness of Ireland’s Maritime Heritage.
A full colour A4 sized booklet, the brochure unfolds to an
A3 form and is printed on both sides. The wonderful
photographs and short but highly informative chunks of
text provide a useful and thought provoking introduction
to the subject of Ireland’s Maritime Archaeology. The
topics dealt with include the main chronological periods in
archaeology from prehistory to modern times with a
mention of some of the developments relating to Maritime
archaeology mentioned very briefly. The past is divided
into the following chronological phases: (1) Mesolithic
hunter gathers to Neolithic farmers (8000 – 2500BC); (2)
Bronze Age and Iron Age (2500BC – AD400); (3) Early
Medieval Coastal Life and Traditions (AD400 – 1100); (4)
Anglo-Norman and Gaelic lordships (AD1100 – 1550); (5)
Post-Medieval maritime landscapes (AD1550 – 1840) and
finally, (6) Archaeology of the modern coastline (AD1840 –
2000). Only a very brief and potted overview can be given
in such a document so a flavour of the past alone is
imparted.
The inside of the fold-out has its lower third or so
dedicated to the topic of threats to our maritime
archaeology. These threats can and do include climate and
sea-level changes, natural coastal erosion, fishing and shellfish
farming, off-shore developments and, finally, coastal
developments and other human pressures. Among the
threats that could be added to the list are the following:
indiscriminate rubbish and litter dumping – an increasing
blight on land and coast as well as at sea, along with
vandalism treasure hunting. The driving of cars and
motorbikes, quad bikes and buggies onto dune systems
are also damaging archaeology wildlife and natural
heritage habitats.
Another section is devoted to Ireland’s Maritime Cultures
and Traditions. Ireland’s Maritime Heritage includes a
range of very diverse features from traditional boats to
lighthouses, piers and archaeological sites such as shell
middens, Fish palaces, fish traps and kelp drying kilns as
well as a huge range of other structures and features could
be added to the list.
There are also sections on the topics of “How to Get
Involved” and on “Where can I get Further Information”.
With over 7,500km of coastline Ireland has more shoreline
than most European countries and it is vital, therefore, that
local communities get involved in helping to preserve,
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