archaeological & built heritage assessment - The Heritage Council

2 Methodology
Desktop Survey
A desktop survey of archaeological and cultural heritage sites within the area of the defined waterways
corridor was carried out in order to assess its cultural heritage constraints. (There was a particular
emphasis in the research process on the identification of all heritage resources located within 500m of the
banks of the waterway route). The Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) of counties Leitrim and
Roscommon, as published by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland, was the principal source for identifying
archaeological constraints. Additional information was gained from the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR)
for each county and a review of local journals and publications. In addition the following sources were
consulted:
• Archaeological Survey of Ireland files for Counties Leitrim and Roscommon held by the Office of
Public Works on behalf of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government
(DoEHLG)
• Archaeological Inventory for County Leitrim
• Topographical Files for Counties Leitrim and Roscommon, National Museum of Ireland
• Irish Architectural Archive
• All available Ordnance Survey maps for the area
• Current County Development Plan for Counties Leitrim and Roscommon
Agencies consulted as part of this cultural heritage assessment included the Department of Environment,
Heritage and Local Government (DoEHLG), DoEHLG Underwater Archaeological Unit, Leitrim County
Council and Roscommon County Council.
Field Survey
Preliminary fieldwork by boat was undertaken by Colin Buchanan & Partners on all navigational routes of
the study area in August and October 2004. The list of Recorded Monuments and Places (RMPs) complied
as part of the desk based survey were used as a base dataset and sites assessed for levels of visibility from
the waterway. The visible sites were photographed from the boat as well the collection of a concise
photographic record of the visible landscape adjacent to the waterway itself. The towns and villages
pertaining to the study area were viewed and photographed both from the waterway and land. The range
and volume of archaeological and built heritage sites within the study area precluded detailed inspection of
sites, monuments and buildings in a systematic fashion. However, rigorous field survey of all towns and
villages located within the study area together with notable sites of archaeological and built heritage
interest was conducted over a six-day period in July and November 2004 by John Cronin & Associates.
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