A Tool and Methodology for Rapid Assessment and Monitoring of Heritage Places in a Disaster and Post- Disaster Context – Syria as a Case Study

Over the past decade, cultural heritage in the Middle East and North Africa has been at risk of irreparable damage through conflict, looting, and cessation of official monitoring and development controls. Various organizations are seeking to monitor and record the extent of damage through satellite imagery and media reports. While the remote assessment of cultural heritage sites and buildings has the advantage of allowing for monitoring of cultural heritage properties from afar, its main limitation is the reduced level of certainty and accuracy in the assessment. It is therefore also essential to have tools and methods in place for on-the-ground condition assessment and systematic recording of data, for use as and when opportunities arise. In the Syrian context, given the threats and damage to archaeological sites, museum collections, libraries and archives, it is essential to develop strategies for emergency recording, assessment and response, and to build up local expertise and provide technical assistance in order to safeguard Syria’s rich cultural heritage. This paper presents the approaches used in the development of a pilot Historic Environment Record (HER) for Syria which began life as an initiative of the advocacy organization Shirīn, and which has since undergone considerable development. It describes the methodologies and standards developed for use in a geodatabase to provide a systematic way to undertake and record rapid and on the ground condition and risk assessments of cultural heritage. The system is being customized to meet post-war/disaster challenges including emergency recording, measuring of damage and threat, and prioritization of resources and intervention activities. The database aims to set procedures for carrying out systematic rapid condition assessment (to record damage) and risk assessment (to record threat and level of risk) of heritage places, on the basis of both on the ground assessment and remote sensing. Given the large number of heritage properties damaged by conflict in the MENA region, the implementation of rapid assessment methods to identify quickly and record level of damage and condition is essential, as these will provide the evidence to support effective prioritization of efforts and resources, and decisions on the appropriate levels of intervention and methods of treatment. Although the initial work of the research project came out of the ongoing conflict in Syria, this database and methodology has since been developed and implemented as part of the multi-institutional project Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa (EAMENA). Given the general lack of appropriate emergency response and assessment databases, this system could also be applied in other regions facing similar threats and damage from conflict or natural disasters

Archaeological excavation report, E3615 Ennisnag 2, County Kilkenny.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR075 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological fieldwork at that site. The area was fully excavated by Richard Jennings under Ministerial Direction (A032/) and Registration Number E3615 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place on 9 and 14 August 2007. Excavation of a spread recorded as a possible burnt mound in the testing report (Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd 2006) turned out to be a modern agricultural deposit

Advances in Irish Quaternary studies, reviewed by Richard Jennings

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Archaeological excavation report, E3542 Danesfort 3, County Kilkenny.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR080A along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological fieldwork at that site. The area was fully excavated by Richard Jennings under Ministerial Direction (A032/) and Registration Number E3542 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place on 25 and 26 June 2007. Excavation of a 225m2 cutting failed to locate an isolated pit (0.35m in diameter and 0.30m deep) that was recorded in the testing report (Margaret Gowen & Co. Ltd 2006)

Archaeological excavation report, E3848 Ballyquirk 4, County Kilkenny.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR157, Ballyquirk 4 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation at that site. The area was fully excavated by Richard Jennings under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3848 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between the 2 and 15 January 2008. This site consisted of the remains of a complex of up to five burnt mounds and/or associated features alongside a stream over distance of approximately 120m. Burnt mound deposits were identified at three areas with the southern two consisting of troughs and pits with no overlying mound material evident. In essence, Ballyquirk 4 consists of five separate smaller sites, all related to burnt mound type activity, but each individual site differed from the next. Burnt Mound 1 was located at the north end of the site and consisted of one large trough and three pits that were sealed beneath a sizeable burnt mound spread. The trough contained a partly stoned base in the south-west which appeared deliberately laid as a platform or step, possibly to assist entry and exit. To the west of the spread were two further pits that may or may not have been associated. To the south of Burnt Mound 1 was Burnt Mound 2. Here a possible trough was dated to the middle Bronze Age and there were four irregular shaped pits to the west of it. To the south of the trough, possibly representing un-associated activity was a hearth, two pits and a small cluster of stakeholes. The stakeholes were adjacent to the hearth and may have supported a light structure, but not a building. All of the features at Burnt Mound 2 were sealed by a burnt mound deposit. Burnt Mound 3 lay to the south of Burnt Mound 2. A large hearth and a possible temporary structure/shelter consisting of nine stakeholes were recorded. Two other pits, one enclosed by the possible structure, were found. A number of postholes may have represented the remains of a palisade or boundary fence, demarking the area of the burnt spread. All features, with exception of the palisade postholes were sealed by a burnt mound deposit. There was no definitive trough identified at Burnt Mound 3. Burnt Mounds 4 and 5 were located at the south of the site and neither had any evidence for an overlying deposit of burnt mound material. Burnt Mound 4 consisted of a trough with a flag-stone floor and four corner stakeholes which may have supported lining for the wall of the trough or a small shelter over it. A second possible trough was located to the west. Although it was more likely to be a shallow pit, a rough linear arrangement of three postholes extended between the trough and the pit, but their function is unclear. Burnt Mound 5 was the most southerly and contained an elongated oval trough with a single stakehole at the east edge. It was dated to the middle Bronze Age, but is slightly later than the dated trough at Burnt Mound 2. The discovery of stone-lined troughs is significant because no other troughs of this type were found on the Road Scheme. It is likely that water for the troughs was sourced from the adjacent stream, although there were a few smaller pits scattered across the site which may have held water

Archaeological excavation report, E3460 Danesfort 11, County Kilkenny.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR088, Danesfort 11 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation at that site. The area was fully excavated by Richard Jennings under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3460 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between the 21 May and 29 June 2007. The excavation identified a number of pits one of which may have functioned as a trough. The oval trough contained a series of stakeholes in the base of the cut which may be associated with a wattle lining. The trough and two adjacent shallow pits contained heat shattered stone within their fills and while no definitive mound was identified on site, it is interpreted that these features were related to burnt mound activity. To the south-west of the trough and two shallow pits a further possible trough and three pits were recorded. These features also exhibited heat shattered stones in their fills and may have been associated with burnt mound activity. The possible trough was oval and two stakeholes were identified at the base which may show evidence of a possible wattle lining. The site was transected by a post-medieval boundary ditch which truncated the area of the second group of pits. A sample of charred hazelnut from pit fill C13 was radiocarbon dated. The 2 sigma calibrated result was 2467–2295BC (UBA 15560). Danesfort 11 is an important site locally in terms of our understanding of the wider early Bronze Age landscape. Along with other excavated sites from the N9/N10 Phase 4 it represents further evidence of prehistoric activity in the immediate area. This activity has been interpreted as burnt mound type activity but the site is not located in a typical burnt mound physical setting and did not produce classic burnt mound features, indeed the absence of an actual mound was significant. In this regard the site also provides an interesting insight into the variety of site types and features associated with burnt mounds and hot-stone technology

Archaeological excavation report, E3850 Shankill 5, County Kilkenny.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR131, Shankill 5 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation at that site. The area was fully excavated by Richard Jennings under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3850 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between the 6 and 19 December 2007. The excavation at Shankill 5 has identified a possible small, temporary structure based around two short linear alignments of postholes that had the appearance of being set into slot-trenches. It is possible that there was no definitive slot but that the setting of the posts immediately adjacent to one another created a linear void. The postholes would have held round vertical posts with a larger post placed at the west end of each alignment. The slot-trench alignments were 1.70m long and orientated east-west. The slot-trenches/post alignments were 1.10m apart and there was no evidence that they were truncated by later activity at either end. To the west of the slot-trenches there were four possible postholes in a sub-rectangular or trapezoidal plan, that may have been related to the main structure. Three small stakeholes to the south and a further one to the east of the structure may or may not be related. Immediately southwest of the slot trenches there was an oval pit which contained a piece of flint debitage, charcoal, hazelnut shell fragments, burnt bone fragments and heat shattered stone. The varied material within the fill could suggest it was a waste pit associated with domestic settlement. It was dated to the early Iron Age. It is thought likely that the slot trenches, pit and other features in the immediate vicinity are likely to all be contemporary. A number of other pits on the periphery of the structure may be further waste pits although the largest pit on the site contained unburnt stones and may be a soak pit or associated with land clearance. In the north of the site a charcoal rich pit was interpreted as being a waste pit, possibly from a hearth, as there was no evidence of in situ burning. It was dated to the medieval period and clearly represents a separate phase of activity to the Iron Age structure. Artefacts from the site consisted predominantly of lithics which may be residual from earlier prehistoric activity in the wider area, although no definitive evidence of early prehistoric activity was identified from the site. Of particular interest were a worn sherd of Beaker pottery and an early Neolithic polished stone axe that were found within the topsoil or clearance layers. As these are not from secure contexts they must be regarded as stray finds and cannot be directly linked to any phase of activity on the site. A total of two samples were sent for AMS radiocarbon dating. The results of the analysis dated hazel charcoal from the fill C62 of a hearth. The 2 sigma calibrated date was AD1399–1436 (UBA 12239). The results of the analysis also dated hazel charcoal from the fill C34 of a pit and the 2 sigma calibrated date was 791–547BC (UBA 15417). The archaeology at Shankill 5 represents a temporary settlement that may be related to small scale burnt mound activity that has been dated to the early Iron Age. Evidence from the archaeological landscape confirms that this area was not intensely settled in prehistory and was associated with small temporary settlement and burnt mound sites. The nature and date of the findings at Shankill 5 are important locally as it confirms the nature of the landscape in the early Iron Age

Archaeological excavation report, E3614 Ennisnag 1, County Kilkenny.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR074, Ennisnag 1 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation at that site. The area was fully excavated by Richard Jennings under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3614 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between 20 August and 1 September 2007. The site was found off the brow of a hill, on a north-east facing slope that overlooked a small stream to the east. The most significant feature on the site was a linear slot- trench. Small freshly broken sherds of Neolithic carinated bowl were found within the brown sandy silt fill of the slot-trench. Four possible postholes were found close to the slot-trench. The slot-trench and the postholes possibly formed a temporary structure c. 3m by 4m in size, although radiocarbon dating evidence suggests that they may not be contemporary. Ten further pits / postholes were found within the 25m2 excavation area but none conformed to any obvious structural pattern. The site may represent a temporary camp site. The site produced eight sherds (plus five fragments, weight: 28g) representing two early Neolithic carinated bowls. The pottery is well-fired and little worn with mainly fresh surfaces and edge breaks. All of the material has quartzite inclusions. The fabric and inclusions indicate that the material represents the earliest type of Neolithic pottery in Ireland which is widely dated to c. 4000–3700 BC A sample of Ash charcoal from the slot-trench was sent for radiocarbon dating and returned a 2 sigma calibrated date of 3518–3368BC (UBA 15544). A sample of hazelnut shell from one of the postholes associated with the structure was sent for radiocarbon dating and returned a 2 sigma calibrated date of 3941–3696BC (UBA 15545) The site has produced evidence of a possible temporary shelter dated to the early Neolithic. Two possible phases, indicated by radiocarbon dating, and the presence of freshly broken sherds of carinated bowl within the slot-trench suggest that the site may have had a more ritual significance to the early Neolithic community. The site is of local importance as it represents the first evidence of early prehistory in the immediate area. The site is of regional importance as together with the results of other excavations along the N9/N10 Phase 4: Knocktopher to Powerstown it has widened our knowledge of the nature and distribution of early Neolithic settlement

Archaeological excavation report, E3737 Shankill 3, County Carlow.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR129, Shankill 3 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation at that site. The area was fully excavated by Richard Jennings under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3737 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between the 29 October and 2 November 2007. Only one archaeological feature was discovered at site Shankill 3, a shallow pit/hearth containing three fills. No finds were recovered. The feature was possibly modern as the charcoal from the main fill appeared quite fresh. The site is undated. The excavated archaeology at Shankill 3 is of minor significance at a local level. It adds some further evidence of past human activity to compliment the more significant sites excavated along the N9/N10 Phase 4 and may be indicative of further previously unknown archaeological features surviving outside the limits of the C.P.O

Archaeological excavation report, E3738 Shankill 2, County Kilkenny.

Irish Archaeological Consultancy Ltd (IAC), funded by the National Roads Authority (NRA) through Kilkenny County Council, undertook an excavation at the site of AR128, Shankill 2 along the proposed N9/N10 Kilcullen to Waterford Scheme, Phase 4 – Knocktopher to Powerstown (Figure 1). The following report describes the results of archaeological excavation at that site. The area was fully excavated by Richard Jennings under Ministerial Direction A032 and Excavation Registration Number E3738 issued by the DOEHLG in consultation with the National Museum of Ireland for IAC. The fieldwork took place between the 25 October and 5 December 2007. The main archaeological feature found at Shankill 2 was a keyhole shaped, stone lined medieval cereal-drying kiln set within an area that was possibly prone to flooding in the past. This was evident by the presence of silted-up stream channels and post-medieval field drains. Thirty-seven sherds of medieval pottery were retrieved from the site. A total of 13 sherds were identified as Leinster Cooking Ware, the most widespread medieval pottery type in Ireland and 21 sherds were identified as Kilkenny-type Ware. A number of lithic artefacts, typologically dated to the Neolithic, were recovered from the site. No Neolithic features were recorded on the site or in the immediate vicinity so these artefacts represent stray finds. Charcoal analysis of samples from the site recorded high oak concentrations from the kiln deposits that may represent the remains of the fuel chosen to be burnt as part of the kilning process. It is also possible that this oak charcoal reflects the remains of an internal structure or the superstructure of the kiln that had burnt down. Three samples of plant remains (charred seeds) were examined from the flue of the kiln. Seeds, mostly cereal grains, were found in all of the samples but they were generally recovered in small quantities, and in the most part were not identifiable to species. It was possible to identify a small number of cereals from the richest sample, and all the identifiable grains were wheat, most likely a free threshing wheat. This was probably bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) which historical records suggest was a crop in Ireland from at least the early medieval period. A single sample was sent for AMS radiocarbon dating. The results of the analysis dated holly charcoal from a deposit associated with the kiln. The 2 sigma calibrated date was AD1223–1274 (UBA 12237). The excavation at Shankill 2 has identified the remains of a medieval cereal-drying kiln. The site is isolated and no other similarly dated monuments are recorded in the vicinity. The site is of local importance as it represents the first excavated evidence of medieval activity in the immediate area. The site conforms typologically with our understanding of medieval cereal-drying kilns, and this has been confirmed through dating