Roughan & O’Donovan – AECOM Alliance N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project Consulting Engineers Environmental Impact Assessment Report Chapter 14 Archaeology & Cultural Heritage 14.1 Introduction The proposed N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road project comprises a Type 1 Single Carriageway 33.4km in length and passes through 46 townlands. A description of the proposed road development is provided in Chapter 4. The purpose of the assessment is to evaluate the potential impact of the proposed road development on the receiving archaeological and cultural heritage environment and to propose mitigation measures to ameliorate any perceived impacts on monuments, finds or features of archaeological or cultural heritage significance. Cultural Heritage as set out in the Draft EPA Guidlines, May 2017 is to consist of Archaeology (Chapter 14), Architectural Heritage (Chapter 15), and Folklore and History (Chapter 14). Topics to be assessed under Archaeology include known archaeological monuments, areas of archaeological potential and underwater archaeology, while Architectural Heritage is to focus on designated architectural heritage and other significant architectural heritage. Designations or sensitivities are included under the category of Folklore and History. For the purpose of this chapter, archaeological heritage consists of ‘such material remains (whether in the form of sites and monuments or artefacts in the sense of movable objects) and environmental evidence’ (DAHGI 1999, 9). Consideration of the historic environment included: The Constraints Corridor The area examined for the study includes the full extent of the proposed road development. All recorded archaeological monuments (RMP), the sites and monument record (SMR), stray finds, archaeological artefacts, historic landscapes, cultural heritage features, place names, and inherited traditions were examined in order to provide an archaeological and cultural heritage assessment. The National Monument Act, 1930 (as amended) provides the formal legal mechanism to protect monuments in Ireland (Appendix 14.1). Protection of a monument is provided via: Record of Monuments and Places (RMP). National Monument in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional; Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs or a Local Authority. National Monument subject to a Preservation Order (or temporary Preservation Order). Register of Historic Monuments (RHM). The Receiving Archaeological and Historical Landscape The eastern part of the proposed road development is located in an area of rolling lowland, interspersed with drumlin features, lakes and watercourses. The western part of the proposed road development consists of predominantly flat-to-undulating lowland including bogland. The landscape is rural in nature with pasture fields dominating, bogland and forestry plantations are also present throughout. The existing environment and historic landscape was assessed in order to inform the archaeological potential of the proposed road development. A wide variety of Ref: (14.155) Page 14/1 Roughan & O’Donovan – AECOM Alliance N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project Consulting Engineers Environmental Impact Assessment Report recorded monuments including linear earthworks, standing stones, enclosures, ringforts, souterrains, hut sites, field systems, early roads, holy wells, ecclesiastical remains and deserted settlements all contribute to the historic character of the landscape. The Candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rathcroghan Archaeological Complex The Candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rathcroghan Archaeological complex is located to the south of the proposed road development on a low limestone plateau and was visited and examined as part of the study. The proposed road development has been specifically designed to avoid any known or recorded impact on the Royal site. The area around Rathcroghan contains many monuments which cover a wide span of time. Cemeteries of prehistoric burials mounds comprise the central remains. 14.2 Methodology The evaluation of the archaeological resource and cultural heritage of the proposed road development is based on a desk study of published and unpublished documentary and cartographic sources, supported by a field survey. The assessment was also informed by a LiDAR assessment survey conducted by University College Dublin (UCD 2015) and photomontages taken from key monuments within the Rathcroghan complex with views towards the proposed road development. A programme of geophysical survey (Licence Ref. 15R0123; 15E0438 Bonsall & Gimson 2015) and archaeological testing (Licence Ref. 15E0545; 15E0587; 15E0588 and 15E0589 Archer Heritage Planning Ltd 2016), was undertaken in September - December 2015 and January-March 2016 to inform the process. The most recent investigations were carried out to supplement and clarify documentary research, the LiDAR survey and field survey inspection findings and to expand upon the results recorded to date from these sources. Test excavation was undertaken at the following sites where geophysical survey had identified anomalies consistent with potential archaeological features on the proposed road development. The site referencing for each site as presented in the EIAR and separate testing reports is as follows: EIAR Identification Testing Identification AH28 possible route way AH01; Kilvoy AH31 recorded pit field and potential pit field AH02; Kilvoy AH34 possible pit field and enclosure AH03; Cloonyeeffer AH57, 58 and 59 field system and enclosures AH04; Gortnacrannagh AH98, 99 and 103 potential pit fields & relict field system AH5a, 5b Lavally & 5c Vesnoy Shankill AH A possible association early ecclesiastical AH06; Shankill site AH72 possible enclosure site AH09; Killeen East Testing was carried out in order to assess the nature, extent and character of the potential archaeological sites identified along the proposed road development. Ref: (14.155) Page 14/2 Roughan & O’Donovan – AECOM Alliance N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project Consulting Engineers Environmental Impact Assessment Report All of the sites and features identified during the course of this assessment are given a unique ID number and are contained within inventories for Archaeology and for Cultural Heritage Sites (Appendices 14.2 and 14.3). The ID numbers distinguish items of archaeological heritage (AH), and cultural heritage constraints (CHC) and those sites located along or in proximity to the proposed road development are shown on accompanying mapping (Figures 14.1-14.25 in Volume 3). 14.2.1 Cultural Heritage Evaluation The appraisal availed of the following sources: The National Monuments, Preservation Orders, Register of Historic Monuments list for County Roscommon was sourced directly from the Department for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DAHRRGA). Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) and Sites and Monuments Record (SMR); The topographical files of the National Museum of Ireland (Appendix 14.4); Documentary and cartographic sources; Excavations Bulletins and Excavations Database (1970-2013); Roscommon County Development Plan 2014–2020; County Roscommon Heritage Plan 2012-2016; Rathcroghan Archaeological Complex Conservation Study, (Oxford) July 2007 Aerial photographs; LiDAR assessment survey; and N5 Strokestown-Ballaghaderreen Corridor: Lidar Assessment, 2015 (Dr. Stephen Davis, UCD School of Archaeology); The sources used in the methodology are contained in Appendix 14.5; The desk study was also informed by data contained in a suite of reports detailing previous assessments undertaken for the proposed road development, including a constraints study and route option assessments: N5 Strategic Corridor Constraints Report December 2006 (Roscommon National Roads Design Office); Archaeological report for the Constraints Study December 2006 (ACS); N5 Strategic Corridor Route Corridor Selection Report, March 2010 (Roscommon National Roads Design Office); N5 Strategic Corridor Phase 3 Route Selection Study for Archaeological, Architectural and Cultural Heritage Architectural Assessment March 2009 (ADS for Roscommon County Council and National Roads Authority). 14.2.2 Legislation, Standards, Guidelines The following legislation, standards and guidelines were consulted: National Monuments Acts, 1930 as amended; The Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended; Heritage Act, 1995; The UNESCO World Heritage Convention, 1972; ICOMOS Xi’an Declaration on the Conservation of the Setting of Heritage Structures, Sites and Areas, 2005; Ref: (14.155) Page 14/3 Roughan & O’Donovan – AECOM Alliance N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge Road Project Consulting Engineers Environmental Impact Assessment Report European Convention Concerning the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe, ‘Valetta Convention’ (ratified by Ireland in 1992); Council of Europe Convention of the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage of Europe, ‘Granada Convention’ (ratified by Ireland in 1997); The European Landscape Convention 2000; Guidance on Heritage Impact Assessments for Cultural World Heritage Properties – A publication of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, January 2011; Guidelines on the information to be contained in Environmental Impact Statements, 2002, EPA; Advice Notes on Current Practice (in preparation of Environmental Impact Statements), 2003, EPA; EPA: Guidelines on the Information to be contained in Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, Draft May 2017; EPA: