Science News
Work stops on Irish motorway through ancient site after find
May 2, 2007, 14:11 GMT
Dublin - Work has stopped on Ireland's new M3 motorway from Dublin to the north-west of the country after what was described as 'a substantial national monument' of archaeological importance was uncovered, The Irish Times reported Wednesday.
The discovery was made close to the Hill of Tara outside Dublin, an ancient site where the Irish high kings are believed to have been crowned and which has cultural and religious significance.
Environmentalists had protested the decision to allow the motorway to pass so close to the site.
The 'large circular enclosure' that has been discovered was probably used for rituals in the Iron or Bronze Age, the newspaper reported.
Environment Minister Dick Roche immediately halted work on the 850-million-euro (1.154-billion-dollar) 60-kilometre stretch of motorway on Tuesday. Roche's colleague in the Transport Ministry Martin Cullen had just turned the sod on the project on Monday.
Ireland is currently improving its network of roads as its economy booms, but the roads often cut across the island's many ancient monuments and historical sites.
Work stopped on an upgrade to the N25 road to Waterford in the south-east of Ireland in 2005 when an important Viking site was discovered in Woodstown.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Science
- 1. Space Shuttle Enterprise arrives in New York City Pictures
- 2. Africa and Australia battle for giant radio telescope
- 3. Care-providing robot helps severely disabled to work
- 4. Solar Flare Pictures
- 5. Brazil's forests at risk under proposed law, critics say
Older Talkback
page: 1
Our monuments are our history.They tell us about the past and how we should look to the future.
We want tourist to visit our shores...but at the rate we are destroying our ISLAND...they will visit to see what not to do and how a tiger can destroy even the Celtic one !
*DON'T KILL THE GOOSE WHO LAYS THE GOLDEN EGGG*
page: 1
Visit TaraWatch campaign siteMay 3rd, 2007 - 05:06:30
For new on the Tara temple visit the TaraWatch.org web site
Report this comment