Publications

Publications

ACSU and its staff have contributed to a wide variety of publications, from books and book chapters to academic papers in international, national and local journals, to newspaper and magazine articles.

The scope of work presented and the high quality of the scholarship are indicative of the professionalism and enthusiasm of all of the archaeologists involved in the many important archaeological projects ACSU have completed since our foundation in 1992

See our News section for information on new publications as they come out.

Books

Excavations undertaken by ACSU in advance of large-scale road development across Ireland have been published in seven books. These have been produced in conjunction with various local County Councils and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), formerly the National Roads Authority (NRA):

2014 – Woodstown: A Viking-Age settlement in Co. Waterford (edited by Ian Russell of ACSU and Maurice F. Hurley), is the definitive account of archaeological excavations undertaken by ACSU at this important ninth-century Viking settlement on the River Suir. The book draws together all the strands of evidence from the excavation and post-excavation analysis and places Woodstown into its national and international context. Now available to download here. 

2013 – Generations: The archaeology of five national road schemes in County Cork (edited by Ken Hanley and Maurice F. Hurley) includes the results of archaeological excavations carried out by ACSU between 2001 and 2004, in advance of the M8 Rathcormac/Fermoy Bypass, the N22 Ballincollig Bypass and the N25 Youghal Bypass.

2013 – Harvesting the Stars: A Pagan Temple at Lismullin, Co. Meath (by Aidan O’Connell) details an important Iron Age post-enclosure that was excavated in the Gabhra Valley, beneath the Hill of Tara, during investigations by ACSU along the route of the M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway. This book offers a comprehensive discussion on what the site was used for, its dating, astronomical alignment and associated material culture.

2011 – Cois tSiúire – nine thousand years of human activity in the Lower Suir Valley (edited by James Eogan (TII) and Elizabeth Shee Twohig) includes details of excavations undertaken by ACSU along Contract 1 of the N25 Waterford City Bypass, including the substantial remains of an early medieval vertical watermill at Killoteran and the internationally significant Viking settlement at Woodstown.

2009 – Places Along the Way: First findings on the M3 (edited by Mary Deevy of TII and Donald Murphy of ACSU) presents substantial accounts of and reflections on eight of the most significant sites excavated by ACSU on the M3 Clonee to North of Kells motorway scheme between Dunboyne and Navan in County Meath—an area incorporating the broader landscape around the Hill of Tara.

2008 – The Archaeology of Life and Death in the Boyne Floodplain: The Linear Landscape of the M4 (by Neil Carlin and Linda Clarke of ACSU and Fintan Walsh of IAC Ltd.) brings together the results of extensive archaeological work undertaken in advance of the construction of the M4 Kinnegad–Enfield–Kilcock motorway scheme. This book represents a substantial contribution to our understanding of the Iron Age and early medieval period.

2007 – Monumental Beginnings: The archaeology of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road (by Ed Danaher) is an account of the archaeological excavations carried out by ACSU, including activity dating back some 6,000 years from a causewayed enclosure at Magheraboy to a large ceremonial enclosure at Tonafortes.

ACSU also facilitated the publication of a so-far unique Bronze Age village in Ireland that was excavated by the company between 2002 and 2003 in advance of a large housing development (Kennedy Group). Corrstown, A Coastal Community. Excavations of a Bronze Age village in Northern Ireland (by Victoria Ginn and Stuart Rathbone) presents the results of the investigation and analysis of 76 Bronze Age structures, including associated pottery and worked stone tools. In 2004, the excavation at Corrstown was highly commended in the developer-funded archaeology category of the British Archaeological Awards (now the Archaeological Achievement Awards). These are recognised as the most prestigious in the field across the UK and Ireland, and are designed to celebrate the work of both amateur and professional archaeologists.

Contributions to books / Book chapters

In addition to the books detailed above, ACSU have also facilitated the publication of important excavations as chapters and other contributions in the following volumes:

2015 – Archaeological Networks: Excavations on six gas pipelines in County Cork (edited by Kerri Cleary) includes details of excavations undertaken by ACSU in 2008, in advance of the Midleton to Whitegate gas pipeline development. This comprised several prehistoric burnt mounds, Iron Age roasting pits and medieval kilns and ditches.

2013 – Tara from the Past to the Future (edited by Muiris O’Sullivan, Chris Scarre and Maureen Doyle) represents the proceedings of a symposium held in UCD in 2009 and includes a paper by Donald Murphy and Victoria Ginn on the M3 Motorway excavations and Tara (Chapter 18). The excavations were conducted by Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit between 2004 and 2009.

2012 – Life and Death in Iron Age Ireland in the light of recent archaeological excavations (edited by Christiaan Corlett and Michael Potterton), contains three chapters detailing excavations undertaken by ACSU. In Chapter 6, Ed Danaher presents a possible Iron Age homestead at Ballinaspig More, Co. Cork (N22 Ballincollig Bypass). In Chapter 18, Aidan O’Connell details the ceremonial complex at Lismullin, Co. Meath (M3 Motorway Scheme). In Chapter 21, Ian Russell examines the excavation of Iron Age burials at Claristown, Co. Meath (M1 Motorway Scheme).

2012 – Clanricard’s Castle, Portumna House, Co. Galway (edited by Jane Fenlon) incorporates a detailed account of the excavations undertaken by ACSU at this 17th-century building and National Monument. The archaeological investigations, undertaken between 1997 and 2009, were directed by Donald Murphy and funded by the National Monuments Service (Chapter 5 by Donald Murphy and Victoria Ginn).

2011 – Settlement in Early Medieval Ireland in the light of recent archaeological excavations (edited by Christiaan Corlett and Michael Potterton), includes three chapters detailing excavations undertaken by ACSU. In Chapter 8, Ed Danaher outlines the results of work at an early medieval settlement at Curraheen, Co. Cork (N22 Ballincollig Bypass). In Chapter 15, Anne Marie Lennon et al. report on the excavation of an early medieval enclosure at Leggetsrath West, Co. Kilkenny (N77 Kilkenny Ring Road extension). In Chapter 17, Donald Murphy gives an account of a multi-period settlement site at Colp West, Co. Meath, which was excavated in advance of a housing estate development (Shannon Homes).

2010 – Death and Burial in Early Medieval Ireland in the light of recent archaeological excavations (edited by Christiaan Corlett and Michael Potterton), contains two chapters by ACSU staff, Linda Clarke and Tara O Neill. Linda details her excavations at Johnstown 1, Co. Meath (M4 Motorway Scheme), which was a multi-period burial, settlement and industrial site that included 461 inhumation burials. Tara describes the results of her excavations at Parknahown 5, Co. Laois (M7/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill Motorway Scheme), where an early medieval enclosure contained 425 inhumation burials and a further 428 collections of disarticulated remains.

2003 – Clonmacnoise Studies, Volume 2 (edited by Heather A King) contains a chapter from Donald Murphy of ACSU detailing the results of his excavations in 1999–2000 of a portion of the monastic enclosure at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly. This work identified the location of the vallum or enclosing ditch around the monastic site and scientifically dated the ditch fill to the eight/ninth century AD, at a time when the monastery was expanding rapidly. Other features were also exposed during the excavation, including two female inhumation burials.

Journals

ACSU projects have also been published in various journals, beginning in 1997 with the Journal of the County Louth Archaeological and Historical Society, where Donald Murphy detailed the excavations he conducted on the site of the medieval Dominican Friary at The Magdalene Tower, Drogheda. This work which revealed part of the original church and south chapel and associated burials, ten of which were found in situ and another 52 in a disarticulated state.

Since then, ACSU projects have appeared in The Journal of Irish Archaeology, Journal of the Waterford Archaeological and Historical Society, Ossory, Laois and Leinster, Ríocht na Midhe (Meath Archaeological and Historical Society), Journal of the Kerry Archaeological and Historic Society, and more.

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Deirdre Murphy B.A.(Hons), H.Dip. Ed., M.Litt., MIAI

Senior Archaeologist

Deirdre is licence eligible since 1995 and has worked as a professional archaeologist since graduating from University College Dublin in 1992 (NFQ Level 8 in Archaeology). In 1998 she was awarded an M.Litt (NFQ Level 9) for her thesis on Medieval Drogheda. She was a Company Director of ACS Ltd from 1997–2009.

As Senior Archaeologist, Deirdre has led some of the largest infrastructural projects undertaken across Ireland, including the Cavan Bypass (1998); Tuam Regional Water Supply Scheme (2000); N18/N19 Ballycasey–Dromoland Road Scheme (2001); M4 Kinnegad–Enfield–Kilcock Motorway (2001–2004); N7 Heath–Mayfield Road Scheme (2003); N8 Rathcormac–Fermoy Bypass (2003); N25 Waterford Bypass (2003–2007); M3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway (2005–2010); M7/M8 Motorway (2005–2008), Mayo–Galway Gas Pipeline (2005), Corrib Towns Feeder Routes (2007–2008) and N52 Cloghan–Billistown Road Improvement Scheme (2018–2019).

Deirdre has written and edited a large number of archaeological reports on behalf of ACSU including more recently for the N5 Westport to Turlough Road Project (2017–2019) and the N55 Corduff to South of Killydoon Road Realignment Scheme (2018–2019). She has also published several papers in archaeological and historical periodicals including the Journal of the County Louth Archaeological & Historical Society, as well as assisting in the publication of the results of excavations undertaken on the M4 Motorway (2008) and the M8 Motorway (2013).

Jon Stirland B.Sc.(Hons), M.A.

Senior Archaeologist and Project Manager

Jon is licence eligible in Northern Ireland since 2006 and in the Republic of Ireland since 2014. His primary degree is in Countryside and Environmental Management from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, and before studying archaeology Jon worked for four years with the UK Environmental Protection Agency. After joining ACSU in 2000, Jon specialised in archaeological and cultural heritage impact assessments, landscape impact assessments and the archaeology of standing buildings, completing an M.A. (NFQ Level 9) in Archaeology and Heritage Management from the University of Leicester in 2008.

As Senior Archaeologist and Excavation Director, Jon has worked throughout the island of Ireland on a large number of infrastructural projects, for private developers, state agencies and local authorities. He has also managed and produced a large number of constraint studies, route selections and impact assessments, including the N3 Virginia Bypass, N7 Naas Road Widening Scheme, N15 Sligo to Bunduff Bridge Road Scheme and the Carrowkeel Passage Grave Complex Management Plan.

Jon has extensive experience in all forms of fieldwork, from test excavation to monitoring and full excavation on both urban and rural sites, as well as geophysical surveys, visual impact assessments and architectural heritage surveys. He has particular expertise in the archaeology of historic buildings, including understanding historic buildings though the study of structural phasing and detailed documentary research. Jon is also a specialist in lithics analysis, with a specific interest in Neolithic and Bronze Age assemblages within ritual deposition contexts.

Jane O’Brien

Office Manager

Jane O’Brien joined Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit in 2017 as Office Manager and has over 20 years’ experience in Administration. Jane is responsible for the management of Administration, Financial and HR functions also supporting the team in Logistics and Operations.

Jane is responsible for accounts payable, accounts receivable, customer billing and customer sales along with preparing payroll. Jane also manages the HR function and overseeing of all training necessary for staff and recruitment of staff. Along with being responsible for HR policies and procedures, staying up to date with current employment legislation.

Robert Breen B.Sc. (Hons)

Senior Archaeological Supervisor and Geophysics

Robert has worked as a professional archaeologist since graduating from IT Sligo in 2014 with an NFQ Level 8 qualification in Applied Archaeology. He joined ACSU in 2016 and specialises in GIS and field survey techniques including geophysical surveying.

Robert has worked on many large-scale excavations, including the N5 (Mayo) and N70 (Kerry) road schemes, the site of the New Children’s Hospital in Dublin city, the Abbey Creative Quarter in Kilkenny city, and the multi-period settlement at Haynestown in Dundalk, Co. Louth. In his role as Geophysical Survey Technician, Robert has designed and completed numerous surveys on a variety of rural and urban sites across Ireland.

Before joining ACSU, Robert worked as an Archaeological Supervisor on a number of additional projects, such as the N4 road scheme in county Sligo and the Richmond Penitentiary cholera cemetery in county Dublin. His main research interests are Viking and early medieval archaeology and in 2019 he attended a training course on environmental sampling strategies, organised by the Institute of Archaeologist of Ireland.

Martin Halpin

Draughting Department

Martin has over 25 years of experience in archaeological illustration. He has worked with ACSU as Drafting Manager since 1997, with responsibility for producing publication-quality report graphics, designing illustration strategies for numerous large-scale infrastructural projects, on-site surveying and the design and upkeep of an internal file management system. He has coordinated both the on-site and off-site draughting for many of the large road projects ACSU have completed to-date, including the M1, M3, M7, N25 and N5.

Martin has expertise in CAD, Trimble Business Centre and the Adobe Suite and has produced high-quality images for ACSU for the following publications:

  • 2007 – Monumental Beginnings: The archaeology of the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road, by Ed Danaher, NRA Scheme Monographs 1.
  • 2008 – The Archaeology Of Life And Death in the Boyne Floodplain: The Linear Landscape of the M4, by Neil Carlin, Linda Clarke and Fintan Walsh, NRA Scheme Monographs 2.
  • 2009 – Places Along The Way: First findings on the M3, edited by Mary B. Deevy and Donald Murphy, NRA Scheme Monographs 5.
  • 2011 – Cois tSiúre – nine thousand years of human activity in the Lower Suir Valley: Archaeological excavations on the N26 Waterford City Bypass, edited by James Eogan and Elizabeth Shee Twohig, NRA Scheme Monographs 8.
  • 2012 – Corrstown: A Coastal Community, Excavations of a Bronze Age village in Northern Ireland, by Victoria Ginn and Stuart Rathbone.
  • 2014 – A Viking-Age Settlement in Co. Waterford, by Ian Russell and Maurice F. Hurley.

Martin has also worked with the National Monuments Service to produced publication-quality graphics for the following monographs:

  • 2013 – Clogh Oughter Castle, Co. Cavan: Archaeology, History and Architecture, by Conleth Manning, Archaeological Monograph Series 8.
  • 2014 – High Island (Ardoileán) Co. Galway, Excavation of a Medieval Monastery, by Georgina Scally, Archaeological Monograph Series 10. 
  • 2016 – A Place Of Great Consequence. Archaeological Excavations at King John’s Castle, Limerick, 1990–98, by Ken Wiggins.

Magda Lyne M.A., MIAI

Senior Archaeologist

Magda is licence eligible since 2019 and has worked as a professional archaeologist since graduating from the University of Adam Mickiewicz in Poznan, Poland, in 2009 (NFQ Level 9 in Archaeology). She joined ACSU in 2019 and specialises in archaeological desktop assessments and Environmental Impact Assessments. She is also proficient in all on-site archaeological techniques and assessment types, surveying, computer database management, finds and sample processing, and post-excavation work, including digitizing, illustration production and finds drawing.

Magda began her career excavating sites for her home University and then as a curator’s assistant in the Archaeological Museum in Poznan. In 2006, Magda moved to Ireland to work on a variety of large-scale infrastructure projects (e.g. M3, N9/10, N18 and N22 road projects), as well as with the School of Archaeology in University College Dublin. Between 2011 and 2017 she worked for various institutions in both Denmark and Norway, including the Museum of Copenhagen and the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research. She has a particular interest in aerial and cartographic analysis and communicating the value of archaeology to the wider community. She has presented her archaeological research at several international conferences.

Linda Clarke B.A.(Hons), MIAI

Senior Archaeologist

Linda is licence eligible since 2001 and has worked as a professional archaeologist with ACSU since graduating from University College Dublin in 1999 with an NFQ Level 8 qualification in Archaeology.

She has extensive experience in test excavation, monitoring, full excavation on urban and rural sites, as well as post-excavation analysis and reporting. As Senior Archaeologist and Excavation Director, Linda has participated in some of the largest infrastructural schemes undertaken in Ireland, including the M4 Kinnegad–Enfield–Kilcock Motorway (2001–2004) and the M3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway (2005–2010). She has directed many large-scale excavations, including an early medieval settlement site at Boyerstown, a prehistoric cemetery site at Ardsallagh, and a multi-period settlement and cemetery site of 400 burials at Johnstown, all in county Meath.

Linda has also published several articles and contributed to many books, including as co-author of The Archaeology of Life and Death in the Boyne Floodplain (2008), which is a full account of the archaeological excavations carried out in advance of the construction of the M4 Motorway.

Kerri Cleary B.A.(Hons), M.A., Ph.D., MIAI

Editorial and Research Manager

Kerri has worked as a professional archaeologist since graduating with an M.A. (NFQ Level 9) in Archaeology from University College Cork in 2002. She subsequently completed her Ph.D. (NFQ Level 10) in 2007 and has since specialised in post-excavation analysis, including research and editing, with extensive experience in managing, interpreting and archiving all forms of excavation-generated data.

She joined ACSU in 2018 with responsibility for managing post-excavation research and quality across all projects, including the final reporting and publication stages for the N70, N52 and N5 road schemes. Kerri previously worked in the UK as a Post-Excavation Manager (2017–2018) and as a University of Wales Research Fellow (2013–2016). Prior to this, she was Project Coordinator for the publication of discoveries on six gas pipelines in county Cork (2012–2013) and the sixth volume in the Knowth series, focusing on the Neolithic archaeology of the large passage tomb within the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site (2007–2010).

Kerri served on the IAI Board of Directors from 2010 to 2014 and she has also been an academic advisor for many publications and public outreach projects, from NRA Scheme Monographs (2012) to the redesign of the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (2017–2019).

Jeanne Rochford B.A.(Hons), M.A.

Senior Archaeological Supervisor and Geophysics

Jeanne has worked as a professional archaeologist since graduating from University College Cork in 2013 (NFQ Level 8 in Archaeology and History). She subsequently undertook post-graduate studies and graduated with an M.A. (NFQ Level 9) in Archaeology from University College Dublin in 2015.

Jeanne joined ACSU in 2016 and has worked on numerous large-scale, rural and urban projects across Ireland on our behalf, such as the site of the New Children's Hospital in Dublin city, the Abbey Creative Quarter in Kilkenny city and Lissaniska Ringfort on the N70 Road Improvement Scheme in County Kerry. Since 2017, Jeanne has also participated in the completion of numerous geophysical surveys on a wide variety of sites across the country.

Her main research interests are medieval and environmental archaeology and in 2019 she attended a training course on environmental sampling strategies, organised by the Institute of Archaeologist of Ireland.

Ian Russell B.A.(Hons), M.A., MIAI

Senior Archaeologist

Ian is licence eligible since 1999 and has worked as a Senior Archaeologist since 2001. He joined ACSU in 1998, after graduating from University College Dublin with an NFQ Level 8 qualification in Archaeology followed by an NFQ Level 9 qualification in Classical Studies.

As Senior Archaeologist and Excavation Director, Ian has participated in some of the largest infrastructural schemes undertaken in Ireland, including the M1 Northern Motorway Project (2001–2002), the N25 Waterford Bypass (2003–2007), sections of the M3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway (2010) and the N5 Westport to Turlough road scheme (2015–2017). He directed excavations at the Viking site of Woodstown in county Waterford, an internationally important site that Ian published in 2014 in conjunction with Viking expert, Dr Maurice F. Hurley.

Ian has extensive practical experience in test excavation, monitoring and excavation on urban and rural sites, as well as environmental impact assessments, visual impact assessments, architectural heritage surveys and metal detection surveys. He also has over 20 years of experience in archaeological photography, specialising in aerial photography using a UAV (drone), photogrammetry, 360-degree and walkthrough photography and 3D-modelling of excavations, monuments, buildings and artefacts.

Glenn Gibney B.A.(Hons), M.A., IAPO(Grad.), MIAI

Osteoarchaeologist

Glenn has worked as a professional archaeologist since graduating from Trinity College Dublin in 2017 with a B.A(Hons) in History and Ancient History and Archaeology. He subsequently specialised in the study of human remains and graduated with an MA (NFQ Level 9) in Human Osteoarchaeology from University College Cork in 2018. He was awarded a first class honours and his thesis examined the discourse in Irish archaeology surrounding the treatment of women who died in childbirth.

He joined ACSU in 2018 as an osteoarchaeologist and has excavated several burial sites covering a wide temporal span. These include Bronze Age cremation burials, early medieval unenclosed cemeteries and modern inhumations of individuals of known biography. Several of these sites are currently being written with a view to publication. Stemming directly from his M.A. work, his main research agendas include the burial and treatment of women who died while pregnant, childhood disease, and neonatal inhumations.

Glenn is an active graduate member of the Irish Association of Professional Osteoarchaeologist (IAPO), a full member of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland (IAI) and a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland (RAI). He has also participated in teaching primary and secondary school students the role of a commercial osteoarchaeologist within the heritage sector.

Donald Murphy B.A.(Hons), M.A., MIAI

Managing Director and Senior Archaeologist

Donald founded Archaeological Consultancy Services Unit shortly after graduating from University College Dublin in 1991 (NFQ Level 9 in Archaeology) and is licence eligible since 1993. In 2018, he received an NFQ Level 6 award in Co-ordinating Construction Stage Health & Safety.

Donald has extensive experience in the area of planning, development and archaeological mitigation. He has provided expert witness testimony at Oral Hearings and in the Courts and advised and acted on behalf of PPP consortia, State Agencies, Local Authorities and private developers. In addition to expertise in archaeological assessment and excavation, he is skilled in archaeological surveying and geophysics and has undertaken many magnetic gradiometry and topographic surveys. He has also completed excavations on behalf of the National Monuments Service at Knowth, the Hill of Tara, Clonmacnoise, Mellifont Abbey and Newgrange.

As Project Manager/Senior Archaeologist, Donald has led some of the largest infrastructural schemes undertaken in Ireland, including road projects such as the N52 Nenagh Bypass Link Road (2000); M1 Northern Motorway Project (2001–2002); N22 Ballincollig Bypass (2001); M4 Kinnegad–Enfield–Kilcock Motorway (2001–2004); N25 Waterford Bypass (2003–2007); M3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway (2005–2010); M7/M8 Motorway (2005–2008) and the N5 Westport to Turlough (2015–2020).

Donald has also published several papers in archaeological and historical periodicals and has assisted in the publication of the results of excavations undertaken by his company for the N4 Sligo Inner Relief Road (2007), M4 Motorway (2008), M3 Motorway (2010), Portumna Castle (2012) and Corrstown, Portrush (2012).

Derek Gallagher B.A.(Hons), M.Sc, MIAI

Senior Archaeologist

Derek is licence eligible since 2006 and has worked as a professional archaeologist since graduating from University College Cork in 2001 (NFQ Level 8 in Archaeology and History). In 2022, he completed an M.Sc in Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture (NFQ Level 9) from University College Dublin, with a focus on medieval pottery production.

He joined ACSU in 2016 and has directed extensive programmes of archaeological monitoring, test excavations and full excavations on multi-period rural and urban sites throughout Ireland on our behalf, including the first phase of the N55 Corduff to Killydoon Realignment. Before joining ACSU Derek also directed excavations ranging from an Early Neolithic house at Dunsinane, Co. Wexford (2010), to an early medieval settlement complex at Kiltrogh, Co. Meath (2008). He has also presented the results of his excavations in public seminars and has published articles detailing the discoveries, including a contribution to the TII volume, Encounters between People (2012).

Derek is also involved in numerous community archaeology and education initiatives. In conjunction with the Monaghan County Museum, he has successfully excavated the crash sites of two World War II fighter aircraft, the remains of which are now on permanent display in the Museum. He has also participated as a Heritage Expert on the Heritage Council of Ireland’s ‘Heritage in Schools Scheme’, and has run Archaeology Summer Camps for the Monaghan County Museum. He has also presented pop-up museum talks using replica medieval artefacts across Ireland, Scotland and England, as well as Denmark and Poland. Derek is a qualified Occupational First Aider and an active member of Civil Defence, where he continues training in First Aid and Search & Rescue.

Chiara Mazzanti B.A.(Hons), M.A.

Draughting Manager

Chiara has worked as a professional archaeologist, CAD technician and archaeological surveyor since graduating from the University of Bologna in 2007 (NFQ Level 9 in Archaeology). She joined ACSU in 2018 as a CAD and GIS technician and is responsible for all graphical aspects of archaeological reports. Chiara has extensive experience in geospatial data processing, including map rectification and processing topographic LiDAR data to create digital terrain models, she is also trained in photogrammetrical surveying.

During her career, Chiara has worked across Italy, Tunisia and Oman, and directed and supervised development-related excavations that range in date from the Neolithic to the post-medieval periods. She initially specialised in molluscs and her thesis on the malacofaunal remains from a prehistoric site in Tunisia was published as part of a study on the Middle Holocene communities of the Sebkhet Halk al Menzel (Tunisia). Since 2012, she has focused her attention on geospatial data management with a particular interest in digitising and georeferencing archaeological field drawings. She moved to Ireland in 2014 to work as an archaeological surveyor and CAD technician.

Caroline Cosgrove B.A.(Hons), MIAI

SENIOR Archaeologist

Caroline is licence eligible since 2019 and has worked as a professional archaeologist since 2000, when she graduated from the National University of Ireland Galway (NFQ Level 8 in Archaeology and History). During this time, she has worked on both research and development-led excavations in rural and urban environments. She first joined ACSU in 2005 and has been involved with extensive programmes of archaeological monitoring, test excavations and full excavations across Ireland on our behalf. Her wide-ranging excavation experience includes a Bronze Age cemetery in Carnmore, Co. Louth, an Iron Age ceremonial site in Lismullen, Co. Meath, a monastic site on High Island, Co. Galway, an early medieval settlement enclosure at Dublin Airport and an early medieval pottery kiln in Drogheda, Co. Louth.

Caroline has also participated in community outreach by undertaking school talks on archaeology and taking students on guided field walks. Since completing her formal education, she has also engaged in Continuous Professional Development, including gaining a FETAC Level 5 certificate in occupational first aid (2010) and a FETAC Level 4 certificate in information technology (2011), as well as attending a workshop on organic residue and multi-isotope analysis (Trinity College Dublin, 2019) and a presentation on best practice in archaeological conservation (National Museum of Ireland, 2019). Her current research interests include marine molluscs in archaeological contexts.

Arlene Coogan M.A., M.Sc

Post-Excavation Officer and Zooarchaeologist

Arlene has worked as a professional archaeologist since graduating from University College Dublin in 2012 (NFQ Level 9 in Archaeology). She subsequently specialised in the study of animal bones and graduated from the University of York in 2016 (NFQ Level 9 in Zooarchaeology). In her capacity as a Zooarchaeologist she has also contributed as an expert advisor to the TII Zooarchaeological Sampling Guidelines (2021), outlining best practice for the recovery, analysis and curation of faunal remains from archaeological sites.

Arlene first joined ACSU in 2015 and has been involved with extensive programmes of archaeological monitoring, test excavations and full excavations across Ireland on our behalf, as well as completing numerous animal bone reports on assemblages dating from prehistory to the post-medieval period. She also previously participated in multiple seasons of excavation at Knowth Site M and Bective Abbey, both National Monuments in State Care located in County Meath, as well as on a large burial site in Killala, Co. Mayo.

In 2017, Arlene was appointed as the companies Post-Excavation Officer. In this role, she oversees the processing of all samples and artefacts and liaises with a variety of national and international specialists, as well as conservators, radiocarbon dating laboratories and the National Museum of Ireland.