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in the news Axehead mystery solved Guidance for practitioners working in archaeology in Northern Ireland The Historic Environment Division (HED) are pleased to announce the launch of a suite of three new guidance documents for practitioners working in archaeology in Northern Ireland. These relate to ‘Conducting Licensed Archaeological Excavations’, ‘Treatment and Care of Human Remains from Archaeological Excavations’ and ‘Creation and Care of Archaeological Archives’. They have been developed by the HED in partnership with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) and National Museums Northern Ireland. It is hoped that they will provide an invaluable resource for professionals working across the sector. The guidance is available online: Guidance for practitioners of archaeology in Northern Ireland | Department for Communities (communities-ni.gov.uk). Learning opportunities and handson training for detailed procedures and processes will be made available to practitioners in late 2024. Additional cyclical engagement events for licenceholders and prospective licenceholders will focus on the planning process and archaeological excavation licensing requirements. Further updates about forthcoming workshops and training will be available on the Archaeology 2030 website: Home | Archaeology 2030 | Northern Ireland. The Irish Antiquities Division in the National Museum of Ireland received two copper axeheads, sent anonymously by post, at the end of June. They were placed in a foam cutout which was then wrapped in a cereal-bar container. The axeheads were accompanied by a letter stating that they were found in the Westmeath area using a metaldetector and expressing a wish for them to be conserved by the Museum. The finder noted that he or she wanted to remain anonymous, knowing that a consent was required to use detection devices to search for archaeological objects. These flat axeheads, likely to be of Ballybeg type, were, according to the note, found close to one another; they date from the Chalcolithic, around 2300 BC. They are of similar dimensions and shape, although one was considerably more corroded than the other. There is relatively little excavated evidence for this period in County Westmeath, with the exception of a number of burnt mounds found on road schemes. Artefacts from the county show significant activity at this time; four lunulae, a single two-holed sandstone bracer, one other axe of Ballybeg type and three of Lough Ravel type have been found, but as yet no Beaker pottery. In neighbouring County Longford the signature of copper axes was found in timbers of this date in the trackway at Corlea 6. As the two axes in this case were likely to have been a hoard, the National Museum was very keen to locate the find-spot. The Museum issued a press release which achieved extensive coverage, from Midlands FM to the national news and the New York Times, in order to encourage anyone with information about the circumstances of their discovery to make it known. Both the landowner and the finder came forward with useful information, and the National Museum is now involved in an investigation of the find-place. The axes are undergoing analysis, recording and conservation. We continue to work closely with our colleagues in the National Monuments Service and An Garda Síochána in other cases involving the use of detection devices without consent to search for archaeological objects and the possession of unreported archaeological objects. We are grateful for the support of the general public and particularly our colleagues in the archaeological community for their help. Matthew Seaver 6 Autumn 2024
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A R C H A E O L OGY I N THE NEW S Upcoming excavation at Tuam After a long and sometimes difficult road, the excavation of the site of the former Mother and Baby Home at Tuam, Co. Galway, is approaching. This is a significant milestone in the development of forensic archaeology in Ireland. For the first time in the history of the state, we can see forensic archaeology written into legislation and a legal requirement for international forensic standards and best practice in forensic archaeological excavation. The scale and complexity of this excavation are unprecedented in Ireland and globally. It is up to us as a profession to step up to this challenge and take part in this unique opportunity to gain world-leading experience in this type of site. In 2016 a significant quantity of infant human remains were found at the site in a subsurface multi-chambered structure associated with a sewage tank. In 2022 the Institutional Burials Act was passed, and it has set out specific standards and requirements for sites of this type that contain ‘manifestly inappropriate’ burials. The legislation allows for a process of recovery, analysis and reburial at Tuam. First comes the full forensic excavation of the site and the recovery of human remains. Analysis is next and will be very challenging in terms of science. It is focused on the pursuit of identification and reassociation of any remains recovered, and of establishment of circumstances and cause of death. Finally, the remains will be reburied in a respectful and appropriate way, to be decided by families with input from other stakeholders. Mr Daniel MacSweeney was appointed as Director of the Authorised Intervention at Tuam in April 2023 by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, and is charged with the oversight of this considerable task. The Mother and Baby Home Commission of Investigation conducted test excavations at the site in 2016. Infant human remains were located within a concrete structure that itself was a later addition to a nineteenth-century stonebuilt ‘sewage tank’ which appeared on the first edition of the Ordnance Survey map in association with the former Tuam Union Workhouse. The concrete structure containing human remains is composed of 21 chambers, in each of which infant human remains have been identified. Each chamber is tall and narrow, with commingled remains deposited at the base. The opening to each chamber measures c. 90cm by c. 30cm, and the deposits of skeletal remains at the base lie over 2.5m below the current ground surface. The 2016 test excavations could not access or excavate the human remains within these chambers and analysis was conducted by photogrammetry and by osteoarchaeological expertise, which determined that the visible skeletal remains belonged to infants ranging in age from 35 foetal weeks to 1–6 years. Radiocarbon dating of a sample of these remains placed their origins firmly in the early to mid-twentieth century (1925–57). The commingled nature and challenging context of these burials require that forensic archaeology play a crucial role in the recovery of remains and in attempts to reassociate remains into individuals. The legislation requires that the site be excavated to the same standards used in the collection of evidence at a crime scene. Looking forward, the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention, Below: The concrete multi-chambered structure known to contain infant human remains (Niamh McCullagh, 2016). Tuam (ODAIT), is busy securing engineering and construction expertise to allow ground works to commence. In the coming months ODAIT will seek to engage the services of a director of excavations at the site, to be supported by a team of forensic archaeologists, archaeologists with human remains experience and, of course, osteoarchaeologists and forensic anthropologists. Work at the site may last up to two years and will include excavation of the wider area outside the chambered structure. The entire site will be composed of the ground that survives from the footprint of the former Tuam Union Workhouse building. As a profession here in Ireland we have a wealth of highly experienced and qualified archaeologists, osteoarchaeologists and forensic archaeologists. We have a unique opportunity to develop in this area, and perhaps in the future to develop a centre of forensic excellence based on the experience that will be gained here. We have a chance to be part of the team that will restore dignity in death and pursue the identification of the children inappropriately buried at the Tuam site—a group of children born in this state, citizens themselves, who deserve more than their current situation. For further information on forthcoming opportunities, or to notify ODAIT of your interest in working on the project, please email hr@dait.ie. Daniel MacSweeney and Niamh McCullagh Autumn 2024 7

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in the news Axehead mystery solved

Guidance for practitioners working in archaeology in

Northern Ireland

The Historic Environment Division (HED) are pleased to announce the launch of a suite of three new guidance documents for practitioners working in archaeology in Northern Ireland. These relate to ‘Conducting Licensed Archaeological Excavations’, ‘Treatment and Care of Human Remains from Archaeological Excavations’ and ‘Creation and Care of Archaeological Archives’.

They have been developed by the HED in partnership with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) and National Museums Northern Ireland. It is hoped that they will provide an invaluable resource for professionals working across the sector. The guidance is available online: Guidance for practitioners of archaeology in Northern Ireland | Department for Communities (communities-ni.gov.uk).

Learning opportunities and handson training for detailed procedures and processes will be made available to practitioners in late 2024. Additional cyclical engagement events for licenceholders and prospective licenceholders will focus on the planning process and archaeological excavation licensing requirements. Further updates about forthcoming workshops and training will be available on the Archaeology 2030 website: Home | Archaeology 2030 | Northern Ireland.

The Irish Antiquities Division in the National Museum of Ireland received two copper axeheads, sent anonymously by post, at the end of June. They were placed in a foam cutout which was then wrapped in a cereal-bar container.

The axeheads were accompanied by a letter stating that they were found in the Westmeath area using a metaldetector and expressing a wish for them to be conserved by the Museum. The finder noted that he or she wanted to remain anonymous, knowing that a consent was required to use detection devices to search for archaeological objects.

These flat axeheads, likely to be of Ballybeg type, were, according to the note, found close to one another; they date from the Chalcolithic, around 2300 BC. They are of similar dimensions and shape, although one was considerably more corroded than the other. There is relatively little excavated evidence for this period in County Westmeath, with the exception of a number of burnt mounds found on road schemes. Artefacts from the county show significant activity at this time; four lunulae, a single two-holed sandstone bracer, one other axe of Ballybeg type and three of Lough Ravel type have been found, but as yet no Beaker pottery. In neighbouring County Longford the signature of copper axes was found in timbers of this date in the trackway at Corlea 6. As the two axes in this case were likely to have been a hoard, the National Museum was very keen to locate the find-spot.

The Museum issued a press release which achieved extensive coverage, from Midlands FM to the national news and the New York Times, in order to encourage anyone with information about the circumstances of their discovery to make it known. Both the landowner and the finder came forward with useful information, and the National Museum is now involved in an investigation of the find-place. The axes are undergoing analysis, recording and conservation.

We continue to work closely with our colleagues in the National Monuments Service and An Garda Síochána in other cases involving the use of detection devices without consent to search for archaeological objects and the possession of unreported archaeological objects. We are grateful for the support of the general public and particularly our colleagues in the archaeological community for their help.

Matthew Seaver

6

Autumn 2024

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