THE ROYAL IRISH ACADEMY IS IRELAND'S LEADING BODY OF EXPERTS IN THE SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hÉireann champions research. We identify and recognise Ireland’s world class researchers. We support scholarship and promote awareness of how science and the humanities enrich our lives and benefit society. We believe that good research needs to be promoted, sustained and communicated. The Academy is run by a Council of its members. Membership is by election and considered the highest academic honour in Ireland.

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Archaeology Research Grant Reports

Geophysical survey at the Creeveroe linear earthworks: a previously unidentified hillfort?

13 March 2023

A number of geophysical survey techniques were employed in order to accurately map the archaeological features associated with the Creeveroe earthworks.

Dr James O'Driscoll Download

What’s Cooking? Organic Residue Analysis of a Middle Bronze Age pottery assemblage from Corrstown in Northern Ireland

27 February 2023

Forty potsherds recovered during excavations in the early 2000s at Corrstown Co. Derry/Londonderry, were subjected to Organic Residue Analysis (ORA) at the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol. 

Dr Kerri Cleary Download

Topographic and Geophysical Survey of Lurigethan Promontory Fort, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

29 November 2022

Between August and November 2022, a drone-based photogrammetry survey and a terrestrial soil resistivity survey were undertaken at Lurigethan inland promontory fort.

Dr Dirk Brandherm Download

DigiHerd: digitally preserving Ireland’s earliest and largest cattle assemblage

26 November 2022

The DigiHerd project undertook pilot X-ray CT scanning of a heavily fragmented Neolithic cattle skull (c. 200 fragments) excavated from an enclosure ditch at Kilshane, Co. Dublin.

Dr Jessica Smyth Download

Infant mortality and kinship in the Irish Iron Age

25 November 2022

The project ‘infant mortality and kinship in the Iron Age’ examines a newly identified group of infant burials of Iron Age date.

Dr Katharina Becker Download

Portal tomb construction: Doogort West, Achill Island, Co Mayo

23 November 2022

The survey asked whether it would be possible to reconstruct a portal tomb in Doogart West, in Co. Mayo. 

Dr Eoin Halpin Download

Crafting the Knowth macehead: an experimental exploration of a unique Neolithic artefact

17 November 2022

Through an exploration of several strands of experimental archaeological research, this project seeks to ‘reverse-engineer’ the specialist technology required to craft theKnowth maesmor-type macehead.

Mr Joe Fenwick Download

Juvenile Kids in an Urban Medieval Town

16 September 2022

The report aims to provide an overview of the findings of the scientific analysis undertaken on a sample of juvenile animal remains (no. 30) in the medieval urban town of Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim.

Judith Findlater Download

Archaeology Research Grants Awarded 2022

30 June 2022

Please click download to view a list of the most recent Archaeology Research Grants awarded. Individual reports will be published here in 2023.

Royal Irish Academy Download

Loughnashade and King’s Stables. Understanding the deposition sites of the Navan landscape

26 January 2022

The project examined the Late Bronze Age pool King’s Stables at Haughey’s Fort and Loughnashade at Navan Fort, Co. Armagh.

Katharina Becker Download

Fingerprinting Famine Graves

28 October 2021

The planned drone surveys of two Great Famine cemeteries took place at Pulla, Co. Waterford, and Gort, Co. Galway. 

John Tierney Download

Finding the Black Castle

28 October 2021

Our project aimed to identify the site of the medieval Black Castle in Birr, through systematic geophysical survey.

Denis Shine Download

Geophysical Survey at Haughey's Fort, Co Armagh

28 October 2021

This report outlines the preliminary results of the project, which aimed to employ geophysical survey techniques over the important Late Bronze Age hillfort of Haughey's Fort and its environs.

James O'Driscoll Download

A preliminary investigation of the materiality of equestrian culture in early medieval Ireland (Interim Report)

28 October 2021

This project has sought to provide the first ever overview of early medieval equestrianism and associated equipment. This preliminary report describes work carried out to date.

Rena Maguire Download

Revealing Roesia: geophysical survey at the de Verdun castle at Roche, Co. Louth

28 October 2021

This project aims to investigate the building remains within the Anglo-Norman castle and potential Deserted Medieval Village on the plateau to the east.

Laura Corrway Download

A new scientific approach to determine agricultural management strategies in medieval Ireland

20 May 2021

Please click download to view a report on this project which was funded under the 2020 Archaeology Research Grants scheme

Meriel McClatchie Download

Environmental assessment of samples from excavations at Linn Duachaill

20 May 2021

Please click download to view a report on this project which was funded under the 2020 Archaeology Research Grants scheme

Nikolah Gilligan Download

Quarrying the past: Petrographic analysis of Dublin’s medieval building stone

20 May 2021

Please click download to view a report on this project which was funded under the 2020 Archaeology Research Grants scheme

Paul Duffy Download

A Community Archaeology Project at Killyloughran, Creggan, South Armagh

20 May 2021

Please click download to view a report on this project which was funded under the 2020 Archaeology Research Grants scheme

Colm Donnelly Download

Northern Ireland’s Round Towers (NIRT): Establishing a Chronology and Technological Understanding through Mortar

20 May 2021

Please click download to view a report on this project which was funded under the 2020 Archaeology Research Grants scheme

Gerard Barrett Download

Archaeology Research Grants Awarded 2021

19 May 2021

Please click download to view a list of the most recent Archaeology grants awarded. Individual reports will be published here in 2022.

Royal Irish Academy Download

Archaeology Research Grants Awarded 2020

22 June 2020

Please click download to view a list of the most recent Archaeology grants awarded. Individual reports will be published here in 2021.

Royal Irish Academy Download

Experiencing Trevelyan’s Corn: Using novel methods in bioarchaeology to reveal the effect of relief food on the bodies of the victims of the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852)

06 September 2019

This project used the analysis of carbon and nitrogen isotopes, and the microscopic study of bones to better understand the impact of the introduction of Indian meal into Irish diets.

Lauren Meckel Download

Surveying Knockloon: Revealing a ceremonial complex on the edge of the Burren

03 September 2019

This project involved the carrying out of a detailed aerial survey of Knockloon hill using a SUA (a small unmanned aircraft or drone).

Rós O Maoldúin Download

Powerhouse of the West?: The possible wider influence of Irish Bronze Age material culture and ritual practices

01 September 2019

This project re-evaluates the present Ex Occidente Lux paradigm for the origins of metalworking in Ireland.

David Bell Download

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