11 replies to this topic

[Yasmin]

Hello everyone, I have just joined the message board.  I am new to archaeology but very interested as an amateur, my interest being sparked off by having just moved to the far NW corner of Ireland and the discovery of many wonderful sites - a rich field for research indeed.  This is a question to start out, about good archaeological practice.

Last weekend I visited a local cairn sited on the top of Croaghan Hill in east  Co. Donegal, near Strabane.  

Researching the site before hand, I read that it is supposed that the cairn is a passage grave but has never been excavated.  It overlooks a 'cemetery' of many portal tombs a short distance down the hill and boasts an expansive view of a very wide area.  A hillfort was constructed around it later which, it is thought, made the site about as important as Grainan of Alliach a few miles away, especially given the fact that the surrounding rich agricultural lands and estuaries supported a thriving Neolithic population.

I was shocked on arrival to find that one massive bite and one smaller bite of the 3 metre high, 21 metre diameter mound had gone, dug out and cast carelessly everywhere, within the last couple of years I would estimate.  I want to know from anyone whether it is normal practice for archaeologists to make good a site after digging, or am I being naive?  If the state that this site has been left in is normal practice then I feel there isn't much between archaeology and the treasure-hunting robbers and desecrators of old!  The site is so beautiful and a natural part of the landscape, a landmark for miles around, that it is dreadful to see the hole still gaping (and filling up with picnicers' rubbish).

I am doing what I can, with the advice of a local museum, to find out if it was officially excavated or not.  Irish Heritage were most interested to hear about it and are investigating.  What else can I do to investigate this?
And I would like to hear from trained archaeologists about their practice - to what condition they are obliged to return a site after excavation, out of respect to our ancestors as well as the natural environment.

[galician]

Unfortunately, that kind of agression to our megalitic inheritance is not uncommon. Here in Galicia, almost every mound was dug out by treasure hunters, but I want to believe that so irresponsible actions were part of the past. Legends of treasures buried by the moors (here, the mythic people linked to megaliths are moors, or sometimes romans or witches) caused people to dig for them. I don't know if they found much gold... Maybe someone could get some earrings or perhaps, if very lucky, a torque.
But nowadays, local goverments protect megalithic sites. Or at least, laws protect them, but, if you don't put money with the law to make it effective... Well, sometimes laws are only goodwill statements, with no power. I know some (too many!) cases of archaeological sites being destroyed with no reaction from local authorities: a part of a germanic burial ground in O Grove destroyed to make a house's foundations, with tombs and human bones put aside with no respect (I spend two summers excavating the remains of this graveyard, and found it very interesting: there was a roman house and salted fish factory, destroyed in a fire; over it, a visigothic chapel and burial ground; and beside the church, the basement of a watchtower built later by Bishop Gelmírez to protect Compostela from normans); Iron-Age hillforts with their ramparts and walls destroyed to make roads, houses; burial mounds leveled to farm ... It would be too long to enumerate them all.
But there is other kind of "agression" perpetrated  by professional alchaeologists. Sometimes, they prospect a site. To do this, they dig out "trenches", in a grid pattern. When they finish, ther pack all the artifacts and valuable items they collected, and go home, most of the times leaving behind the "trenches" (I think english technical word is "bore", but I'm not sure). Rain, snow, wind, and unscrupulous people make the rest of the work. For example: archaeologist make a bore in an Iron-Age hillfort ramparts and earthworks, to find out how they were built. They dig out a transverse trench, cutting the walls. When they leave, there is no money to fix up the wall, so rain starts its work, ruining the exposed sides. And this way, a rampart that stayed tribal wars, the roman invasion, the goths and the moors, falls because of an archaeologist work. Then, visitors use the dig to evacuate their bladder and bowels, to dispose their garbage... And the old rampart becomes a latrine.
I don't know which of these agressions was the one you told us. Some photographs might help, of course. But, from the evidences you told us, I bet there was an archaelogic excavation that was left because they found little artifacts or because they ran off money. It's a widespread problem.
And I'm a bit guilty, too. That visigothic graveyard I was excavating was also left unprotected. Our excavation chief was "promoted" to a higher position, and no one continued his work. I visited the place two years after the last campaign, and the view was desolating: bushes growing everywere, tombs destroyed, sand (it was at the seaside) covering it, bones crushed and almost corroded by the salty air...
The solution? Don't excavate if you can't protect what you dig out. And if there is no funds to protect, excavate, take the artifacts to a museum and then, bury the site again.

[Yasmin]

Thanks for your lengthy, most interesting reply.  I learn.  

I would like to go through it in more detail in a day or two, but for now pose the question are there cases where people (I mean ordinary people rather than archaeologists) try to repair this kind of damage, just so that at least picnikers and the like don’t deposit their yukey stuff in it.  My guess is that just as it is illegal to dig unlicensed, so it would be illegal to repair it without permission.  But do concerned lovers of these sites take their own action?

I am a little reluctant to start my own battle over this, for instance through the newspapers.  I have only just moved to this area and don’t want to start out by making enemies!  But I want to do something.

This little cairn (3 metres high, 21 metres diameter) is vulnerable now.  It is set up high on top of a hill, open to all the wind and rain that comes in Donegal, and that is a lot.  The interior is mostly soft soil.  The rain is making holes between the few flat stones I could see down inside.  About one fifth of the cairn was removed in the bite taken out, going deep into its core or base.  Another smaller hole is on the opposite side.  A grown man could stand down inside and still the cairn top would be two or more feet above his head.

I think you may well be right about what has happened. It makes sense.  I may be able to post a photo in a week or two.

[galician]

Yes, Yasmin, excuse me for the lenght of my post. Talking about megaliths and archaeology, sometimes I just can't stop.  
I presume Irish laws are like Spanish ones. You can not do anything in an archaeologic site without your local authorities' permission. I supose the only exception to this rule is that you can pick up all the garbage you find inside the cairn and dispose it properly, if you feel like it.
Sometimes here, a club of Archaeology Fans or similar start an action to protect a site, menaced by a planned road, public or private building, farming... And sometimes, they win the fight. But it's usually an association who takes the needed actions, never a single person.
Is there any Club like those in your district, county or similar? Contact them and ask for their help.
And, as you say you are a newcomer to your district, you don't want to make enemies. That's a very wise policy. But saving your county's inheritance must not make you any enemy, if you play your cards well.
Last, but not least, sometimes the lack of publicity is what makes people destroy the megaliths. Most of them really don't know their value. If they knew, they would respect it more. Tell them the real value of that stones, or force your local authorities to put some signs or posters near the cairn explaining what is, who built it, why... and people will understand what they are visiting, and will be more careful.

[Diego]

This is one of the best threads I've ever read on this forum.
Thanks Yasmin and Galician for your very positive, helpful and thorough considerations. Speaking of publicity (quoting Galician sometimes the lack of publicity is what makes people destroy the megaliths), this is one of the main reasons we are making our "Megalithic Tours" almost every year. Showing and speaking of obscure megalithic sites on the Net is a good method - in our opinion - to keep them alive and safe.

Diego
Stone Pages

[Yasmin]

Thanks to both of you from me for your positive responses.  Boosting my confidence!  Galician, I don't think your replies are too long...I have to edit my own or they would be even longer. Great that you are so interested.
Anyway, I am going to mull it over and do some more reading.  Will post any news from Irish Heritage or local museum.  Will look in in a day or two.  Hoping others will add in their thoughts.

[Yasmin]

I am very pleased to report that the Irish Heritage service and National Monuments of Ireland have been checking up on my report on Croaghan Hill cairn.  They can find no licence for a dig. An archaeologist who went up there this afternoon just rang me and said that I was quite right in my assessment - it is a serious case of illegal excavation, not just a farmer's destruction.    He confirms it is a passage tomb.  The roof corbels are visible. He said he has seen a number of damaged sites in his work but this was definitely the worst case yet. He has reported it to the police and there will be an investigation.

As he says, the view is magnificent and it is a very impressive site, though treacherous to get to if you don't work out a good route.  If anyone who is seriously interested wants to see it, I would be happy to show them, and advise on a way to get up through the fields of bog and thick gorse around it!

I mentioned your guess, Galician, about it being a full excavation followed by others messing about.  He agrees it was done by someone who knew what they were doing, legally or otherwise, then others very recently picking at it.  I feel there may be more attempts yet unless it is protected or filled in.  It is in serious danger from the point of view of weather too.

So I am going to try to find the local historical society to see if pressure can be put on the authorities to fill it in.  Does anyone know of such cases being successful??

[galician]

GOOD JOB!! Yasmin, you're doing it the best way. Go ahead with your fight, and that cairn will stay some centuries more thanks to you.
I'm very sorry about the results of the investigation. It's too sad that, nowadays, people can destroy a valuable archaeological site because of treasure hunting. What do they expect to find inside a prehistoric cairn, a spanish galleon's treasure? I wonder if the artifacts that they could find would pay for the work (and for the damage they made). And the statement that it was done by people who "knew what they were doing" is simply terrific. That means that they are professionals, or they have done it many times before. But if they're looking for a "lucky strike" to become rich, they'd better spend their time in the Caribbean, searching for sunk galleons, and leave alone old cairns that for sure contain little gold inside.
I told you that, at least here, sometimes people is successful in saving megaliths or other archaeological sites from danger. Some examples: near the Portuguese border, in the SE of Galicia, there's a place called Muiños where there were three dolmens. But Goverment planned a dam, and they would be submerged. Finally, a partial solution was achieved: the dam was built, but the dolmens (named "dolmens of Maus de Salas") were moved and now they are safe, at the beautiful shores of the artificial lake. It's not the best of all solutions, but is better than have to scuba-dive to visit them. Other dolmens were saved as a part of a park or recreational zone. In Vigo, in the downtown, there's a hill named "O castro" (The Hillfort). There's an iron-age hillfort, and over it, a fortification "Vauban Style" from 17th or 18th century. Now it's partially excavated, and it's a part of a public park. You can win the fight, don't worry. Local government will fix up the mess, and probably put signs on the route, for a trekking or so.
I hope it will be this way, because, as soon as my job leave me some time to myself, I'm planning a trip to the Emerald Isle, and I've just put Croaghan Hill (Strabane, Co. Donegal) as a "must see" in my checklist   :cool: .
And now for Diego: you're doing a good job with your Stone Pages. Keep you Tours coming. Everybody knows Stonehenge, and nobody will dare to destroy it to buid a new highway. But, what about the hundreds or thousands of megaliths like the one that Yasmin told us? That's the need you're fulfilling. It's nice to tell people that, the old stone mount they have in their backyard is really a valuable witness of old ages, and it can tell us a lot about how our ancestors lived and died. This will help people to be more respectful. There is law, of course, to protect them and punish the offenders. But laws must have other function, besides punishment. They must encourage people to protect sites located in their properties. Imagine you buy a parcel to build a little country house to spend your holidays. Fine, isn't it? Maybe it costed you half of your life savings. But, as you start to dig for the basement... A hillfort! Local government agents come, inspect the site, and tell you that it's a valuable site, and you can not build. That's all. No compensations. Just don't touch it, or you will be prosecuted and you'll pay a fine or even, be jailed. So, sometimes people thinks that finding archaelogical remains in his lands is a curse, not a luck. And sometimes people tell tales of "mercenary archaeologists" that can provide you an expert's report to show your government, telling that "the remains located at parcel XXX are not valuable, and can be destroyed to build...". Law must punish the offender (hang them high with no judgement!!!  :mad: ) , but also compensate the one who planned a building and had to stop because of an archaeological site that must be preserved.
And least, I will join Yasmin in encouraging anyone who is reading this to add his posts, I want to know how is this problem managed in other countries.
Keep us informed, Yasmin, and go on with your "crusade"  

[Yasmin]

Not much news about Croaghan as yet but it does appear that this site was dug out illegally up to two years ago.  I hope to speak with police soon, who are investigating.  Thanks for all your help.  By the way, if you look on a map, Strabane is in Northern Ireland whereas this hill is just over the border in the Republic.  Talking to local people it is a very important landmark for them, going way back in their minds.  Prompted by my research on this site, I have posted a question in Megalithic forum about cairn construction if you want to have a look.  Will post any further info about the investigation when I get it.  Weather too cold for another visit/photos!

[Roibeard]

I enjoyed reading your messages. Let me tell you that 34% of Heritage in the 26 counties of Ireland has been destroyed; an average of 10% each decade - 1500 sites per year under threat (it's also a problem in the six counties). Basically, SOME Archaeologists are culpable but mainly it's Farmers and Road Developers and Building Speculators. It is occuring in all manifestations: ancient Church remains, Barrow tombs (in Ireland referred to as Tumulus, Holy Wells, Ring Forts, all types of Cairns, etc.

I have been trying to organise a campaign here and internationally: Firstly, by writing to the Minister herself (I have been writing to the State body - Duchas - but it's obvious one needs to go higher!

I have an article and a poem for ANYONE who would be interested in getting involved. Just e-mail me please: robbiemc@iolfree.ie

[Roibeard]

I just wanted to say to you, Galician, that I have been to your country three times. I love it! Santa Tegra, of course, I like. The next time that I go, I hope to see Dombate and other sites. I hope and pray that what has been happening in the Emerald Isle will never happen in your green Isle. Let the Gaels and the Gallegos work together for the protection of our heritage!

[galician]

Sorry, Roibeard, I've been a little busy this holidays, and I haven't read your post till now (4.35 AM, yes, my job is a damned one!). Thank you, I'm happy you had a good time when in my country. I've never been in Ireland, but this is a mistake I'll correct as soon as I can enjoy a couple of weeks far away from my job (and as soon I can save enough money too!).
I don't know statistics about Galician heritage, but I'm sure that they are more or less the same that the Irish ones. Highways, farming, mining, and so on, claim a little (or not so little) amount of our heritage each year. Well, I can not seriously propose to stop developement. We need highways, farms, yes, everything, but... Couldn't they be buit respecting most of our sites? I'm sure they could, if government wants. This "destruction with premeditation" we hardly can avoid.
But, people destroying sites because of avarice (digging for trasures or searching for artifacts to be sold ilegally to private collectionists), or because of ignorance (like driving a 4x4 over a hillfort of a mound), is what really makes me sick. Those "official destructions" of sites to make a highway over them come ALWAYS with an urgent excavation. When a stupid drives his Jeep over the earthworks of a hillfort, we don't learn anything, and the site is anyway destroyed.
Yes, you're right, anyone who likes megaliths should fight to preserve them, our heritage, right from our first ancestors. Where I must sign to join this war?