Archaeological Survey of County Donegal
Back To Archaeology of County Donegal
In 2023, we celebrated 40 years since the publication of the pioneering 'The Archaeological Survey of County Donegal'.
County Donegal was the first county in Ireland to have a full survey of its archaeological sites conducted and published in book form (1983). A previous survey of County Down (published 1966) had concentrated on medieval, post-medieval and industrial architectural monuments, with only a small selection of earlier sites included as examples. In the absence of any prospect of the national Archaeological Survey reaching Donegal in the 20th century, c.1970 Máiréad Dunlevy, from the county but working at the National Museum of Ireland, organised an ‘amateur’ survey conducted by voluntary members of the County Donegal Historical Society with the 110 OSI 6” maps provided by the County Council. In 1979 Dermot Walsh of the Donegal Regional Development Organisation proposed that that survey be put on a professional basis by Donegal County Council using money from the government’s Employment Guarantee Fund. About 35 persons, mainly young archaeology graduates, were employed at one time or another on the project. The fieldwork took place over 50 weeks between the summers of 1980 and 1981, followed by the preparation of the survey archive and published book. About 4000 sites were inspected of which 2,500 were deemed to date prior to the chosen cut-off date of AD1700. Where appropriate the sites were described, drawn, and photographed on 35mm film. This was a pioneering project in many respects, conducted before the availability of modern survey and IT equipment.
As part of this celebration, Donegal County Museum who hold the original Field Notes, survey drawings and slides recognised that the slides and drawings were vulnerable to decay and required digitisation.
This ‘Archaeology 40’ project aimed to preserve the unique slides and drawings of the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal undertaken in the early 1980’s for present and future generations and to provide worldwide access to this collection, communicating the importance of our county’s archaeological sites through this archaeological digital archive.
This unique and important collection includes many never-before-seen photographs and drawings of archaeological sites surveyed during the first ever County archaeological survey undertaken in Ireland in the early 1980’s. They include many sites which are in private ownership and are not accessible to the public, along with sites which no longer exist, providing a snapshot of the preservation state of these sites 40 years ago.
By digitising this collection of slides and drawings, it ensures the permanent preservation of the images and plans and because of this, digital access to archaeological sites around County Donegal.
We received Heritage Stewardship Funding from the Heritage Council to digitise the slides and drawings and created an accompanying exhibition which tells the story of the first professional Archaeological Survey and subsequent publication of the Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. It creates interest in and an opportunity to promote the preservation of archaeological sites in County Donegal.