The Dublin City Archaeological Archive was launched by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Eibhlin Byrne, during the World Archaeological Congress, which took place in Dublin in July 2008. This project is a partnership between three divisions in Dublin City Council– the City Archives, City Archaeology and the Heritage Office. The intention is to bring together all records of archaeological excavations in Dublin carried out by commercial firms, for deposit in Dublin City Library and Archive. Records are to be prepared for transfer by individual archaeologists or archaeological firms, following a set of guidelines prepared by archivist Orna Somerville, informed by her previous training as an archaeologist. As a first step, the guidelines were tested during 2007 by means of a pilot project on excavation records belonging to Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd.

A handbook explaining the archive and setting out the arrangements for deposit of collections, has also been published by Dublin City Council, with the support of the Heritage Council.

Archaeological sites and deposits in Dublin hold the material remains of an enormous complex of cultural and historical evidence, which provides evocative and tangible evidence of the past. The dramatic redevelopment of the city over the past fifteen years has been matched by numerous significant excavations within the historic core, excavations which have been required as a condition of planning permissions. The record created by these excavations provides the basis for important historical and cultural narratives in relation to Dublin’s past, its citizens and their lives. 

Preservation by record is now an accepted practice within archaeology where preservation in situ is not possible or practicable. However, to achieve preservation by record calls for preservation of the record and this handbook provides a clear and concise guide to the steps essential to this process, vital if we are to capture the narratives inherent in these records.

From now on and into the future, records of excavations must be deposited with Dublin City Library & Archive, as a standard condition of planning permission in Dublin. This is an imaginative and far-reaching innovation by Dublin City Council, which is the first local authority in Ireland to incorporate this requirement into its planning guidelines. 

Copies of Dublin City Archaeological Archive Guidelines are available free of charge and can be requested by telephone at 01-674 4996/4848 or e-mail.

Mary Clark 
Dublin City Archivist