Archaeology

County Cork's archaeological heritage spans a diverse spectrum of age and variety. Many historic sites are vulnerable. Our heritage is one of the main attractions for tourists visiting our shores. Most heritage sites are situated on private land. If destroyed, their loss to the landscape is a loss to the community. A partnership based on knowledge and co-operation between the general public, landowners and local and national authorities can help to maintain these sites and buildings. It is by this partnership that the rich heritage of our County Cork will be preserved for future generations.

The types of archaeological sites that can be seen in County Cork include the following:

• Megalithic (wedge) tombs, which consist of a burial chamber or chambers, with walls of large, upright stones, roofed over by stone lintels and originally contained within a cairn (mound of stones). Generally, these can be dated to the beginning of the metal age (2300-
  1700).
• Standing stones generally date to the prehistoric period, in particular the Bronze Age (2200-
  1100 BC). They may have marked the location of graves, territorial boundaries or route-
  ways.
• Fulachta Fiadh are usually evident as low, grass-covered mounds of heat-shattered stones that are associated with wooden or stone water troughs. They were probably cooking areas dating to the Bronze Age (1800-500 BC).
• Ringforts are circular areas enclosed by an earthen bank formed of soil dug from a surrounding ditch or fosse. Most ringforts were enclosed farmsteads, and generally date to the early Medieval period (500-1100 AD).
• Souterrains are underground structures that consist of chambers and creepways. They date to the early Medieval period, and were used for either storage or for refuge in troubled times.
• Medieval churches are found in almost every parish in County Cork, in varying states of preservation. The majority of them are simple, rectangular buildings. Some have side aisles and transepts, giving them a cross-shaped plan, particularly in urban areas. These churches date from 1200-1500 AD. They have cut-stone door and window surrounds, features that can help to date the buildings. Most are located in graveyards that have historic gravestones and other features.
• Tower houses were built between 1400 and 1700 AD. They are tall, rectangular towers and between three and five stories in height. They contain many features characteristic of larger castles, such as battlements, machicolations and narrow slit windows.
• Water-powered mills were the main source of energy from 600 AD to recent times. They were used for powering corn and flour mills and in the manufacturing of textiles, smelting of iron and operation of breweries. These  buildings are often large, and are located next to rivers and streams. They look like warehouses, and contain several floors. Some still contain intact machinery, including water wheels.

Some facts and figures for Cork

• 17,000 monuments listed on the Record of Monuments and Places with about 1,500 more due to be added shortly.
• 168 registered monuments.

Relevant legislation

The National Monuments Act 1930 and amendments of 1954, 1987, 1994 and 2004 are the principal statutes governing the care of monuments in the Irish Republic. They provide for the protection of national monuments through the use of preservation orders.

Other relevant legislation, conventions and agreements include:

• The Heritage Act, 1995
• European Convention on the protection of the archaeological heritage (Valletta) 1992, CETS No. 143
  European Convention for the protection of the archaeological heritage (London) 1969, CETS No. 66
• The Australian ICOMOS Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Significance (The Burra Charter)
• Continental Shelf Act, 1968

The Historic Monuments Advisory Committee

The Historic Monuments Advisory Committee (HMAC) was established under the National Monuments Act 1930 for the main purpose of providing Cork Co. Council with advice and assistance in relation to the preservation and protection of national monuments. The committee has been important in the development of heritage management and has also been involved in heritage policy development in the council.  Members of the committee have worked closely with the Planning Department on joint initiatives and several long-term projects including the conservation of the Ballincollig Powder Mills and Glanworth Mill.  Several members of the HMAC are also members of the Heritage Forum. 

 

The HMAC is made up of a number of Councillors as well as 'special knowledge' members and the relevant local authority officers including the architect with responsibility for conservation of monuments in Council care, the archaeological officer, conservation officer and a planner.  The main focus of the work carried out by the HMAC is to advise on work carried out by the Co. Councils Conservation Works Team (CWT), a team that is led by an architect from the Councils Architects Department.  This team of skilled craftsworkers are responsible for on the care and conservation of monuments in the Councils care and their establishment has been a unique initiative in Ireland.   The HMAC advise both local community groups and other Local Authority staff on the care of graveyards and they promote county archaeological heritage through their work on the County Heritage Forum and elsewhere.  For more information on the work of the Historic Monuments Advisory Committee, contact the Archaeological Officer, Cork Co. Council or John Ludlow, Architects Department, County Hall, Cork.


Maintenance and Care

A minimum intervention approach is necessary for the long-term preservation and conservation of our archaeological heritage. Generally, sites are sensitive to even the best-intentioned interference. Before starting any works, you should seek out the direction and advice of the heritage bodies listed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a heritage site on your land, you are very privileged. There are some measures you can take to make sure that it passes to the next generation in good condition, including the following:

• Keep the grass cut and bushes clipped.
• Do not burn off or use chemical means to remove vegetation from the site.
• Protect the structure from too much contact with large farm animals - calves and sheep are less damaging to earthwork monuments.

NOTE: If you are a visitor to a heritage site, ensure you respect the proper rights of way to and from the site and observe the following measures:

• Do not leave litter behind.
• Ensure you close gates.
• Keep dogs on leads.

For advice on archaeology contact:

Archaeological Officer, Cork Co. Council, The Heritage Unit, Cork County Council, Floor 3, County Hall, Cork. Tel: 021 4276891

Heritage and Planning Section , Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dún Scéine, Harcourt Lane, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 411 7109

Cork Public Museum, Fitzgerald's Park, Cork. Tel: 021 427 0679

National Museum of Ireland , Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01 677 7444

Where can I find information on archaeological sites?

All archaeological sites that are protected under the National Monuments legislation are recorded and mapped on the Record of Monuments and Places. You can access this record in the county and branch libraries.

Downloadable Documents

• European Code of Good Practice: Archaeology and the Urban Project (2000)