Archaeological Excavations
Who can hold an Archaeological Licence
Applying for a Licence
Conditions of Licences

Archaeological Excavations

• Excavation for archaeological purposes must be carried out by suitably qualified archaeologists acting under licence, or in accordance with consents or directions, issued by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
• Modern archaeological excavation is a highly skilled activity requiring much expertise in the recovery of the evidence and in its interpretation and publication.
• Objects found in an excavation are important both in themselves and also because of their recorded association with other objects, structures, layers or features.
• For more detailed information see Policy and Guidelines on Archaeological Excavations.

Who can hold an Archaeological Licence

• In order to ensure that excavations and other investigative techniques are carried out by qualified persons, the Minister issues licences only to persons who have been interviewed by the Department and have been deemed competent to conduct an archaeological investigation.  
• Once the applicant has been successful at interview he/she is deemed competent to hold an archaeological licence.
• The eligibility criteria for interview are:
  • an academic qualification with a substantial archaeological content;
  • relevant archaeological excavation experience in a supervisory capacity.

Archaeological Excavation Licensing interviews are held regularly. Persons wishing to apply should contact:

Licensing Section,
National Monuments Service,
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government,
Dún Scéine,
Harcourt Lane,
Dublin 2.

Email: licensingsection@environ.ie
Phone: 00 353 1 8883112

Applying for a Licence

• You may apply through this website by clicking on Apply for a Licence and following the instructions.
• Applications for archaeological excavation licences normally take three weeks to process. Applicants should therefore apply at least three weeks before the commencement date of the proposed excavation.
• An excavation method statement must accompany the application form.
• For national monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister or a local authority, or which are subject to a preservation order, the prior written consent of the Minister is required for any works, including excavation, at or in proximity to the monument.
• For archaeological works relating to an approved road development an application must be made for Ministerial directions.
  
  NB. For Irish language versions of the application forms for each category of licence, please follow the link to the Publications section of the website. 

Conditions of Licences

• Archaeological excavations will be licensed subject to a standard set of conditions relating to the proper conduct of the excavation as well as other relevant matters.