A review and update of existing palaeo-environmental and anthracological guidelines in Ireland

Abstract

Charcoal, as an environmental proxy, has been sampled, processed and analysed from hundreds of excavations on the Republic of Ireland’s road and rail infrastructural projects through the state agency Transport Infrastructural Ireland (TII). The approaches taken to sampling, analysis and reporting varied extensively between different practitioners, prompting the development and implementation of palaeo-environmental guidelines for archaeological projects in 2012 by TII: Palaeo-environmental Sampling Guidelines (PESG). These guidelines have been in operation for over 10 years (McClatchie and OCarroll 2012 and revised 2015). The implementation and use of the guidelines by many different practitioners has provided consistency in sampling procedures across a range of different sites as well as standardised analysis and reporting of charcoal and palaeo-environmental remains from TII-funded projects. After a decade of implementation TII considered that it was timely and appropriate to commission a review of the guidelines as TII’s responsibilities had expanded to encompass urban light rail projects. TII also recognised the need to ascertain what had worked well and what could be improved, to consider changes in methodological approaches over the last 10 years, and to identify any new sampling procedures and strategies, particularly for excavations in urban contexts.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy (IAC) Ltd. were appointed by TII to review and update the guidelines. The review considered best international practice and engaged with key stakeholders to obtain feedback on the implementation and use of the existing guidelines (including stakeholder workshops and questionnaires). The main outcomes of the review centred on the need for earlier engagement in relation to environmental and anthracological guidance, more user friendly and graphically focussed instructions, increased and more effective communication between all parties as well as the introduction of new case studies and the inclusion of new methodological approaches that had developed during the 10 years that the guidelines were in use. Workshops will be delivered to ensure any new procedures and implementation processes are understood and effectively executed by practitioners and consultancies. This paper examines the existing TII and international guidelines, explains the review process, and sets out the changes and updates for future guidance.