World Archaeological Congress Call for Further tara / M3 Submissions

international | history and heritage | news report Monday July 21, 2008 23:23 by TaraWatch info at tarawatch dot org

An executive member of WAC is compling a report on tara/M3 and wants to hear from you

The Sixth World Archaeological Congress (WAC-6) was recently held in University College Dublin. During the Congress, there was a special session hosted by the WAC Standing Committee on Ethics, which entailed presentations by various stakeholders in the Hill of tara / M3 motorway issue. Addidionally, tara was raised at the Plenary Session, at the conclusion of the congress, and a resolutions regarding tara's World Heritage value was passed. Now, WAC wants to further investigate the issue, and has appointed an executive member to compile a report.

Clare Smith, President of World Archaeological Congress (WAC), has appointed Jon Price, executive member of WAC, and council representative for Northern Europe to oversee the compilation of a comprehensive report on the tara/M3 issue.

Mr Price spoke in support of several of the tara proposals at the WAC6 Plenary Session. He is an active archaeologist, based at Northumbria University. His area of research is the way landscapes are invested with sacred status.

In a message to campaigners today he said:

"I am fully aware that the process of archaeology in Ireland today is a contested zone. If you have published statements or documents which you think I should read to further understand the situation I would be grateful to receive them. I am not looking for individual opinion (whether from a chief archaeologist or a protester) but for evidence supporting a
broader communal view."

Jon Price
jon.price@unn. ac.uk