archaeological survey

Starrgrrl

Hi all,
Just found out from planners that we need an archaeologist on site for any excavation as our site is near an old church. Does anyone know the approximate costs of this. Just a range even? Thanks a mil.
Claire

Starrgrrl

And just copped that this should probably be in the costs section. And I don't know how to move it. Sorry!

BryanF

Starrgrrl wrote: »

Hi all,
Just found out from planners that we need an archaeologist on site for any excavation as our site is near an old church. Does anyone know the approximate costs of this. Just a range even? Thanks a mil.
Claire

hi Claire,
there'll generally be a day rate + cost of report for LA, so it all depends on how long/what sort of site it is. you'd be best to contact a couple of archaeologists to get some prices, what part of the country are you in? as people here may be able to offer recommendations. I've worked on jobs where it has just been a formality but there is always the chance that something may be found, which could increase the costs and slow down progress on site. best to get 3 quotes and weight up your options from there...

Starrgrrl

South Kildare. We're hoping there won't be anything there really because the land has been used for farming for years and there's a good 100 yards and a river between the church and our site. Hard to know though. Our budget is pretty tight so anything extra is a pain.

muffler

As mentioned above by BryanF do shop around and get 3 quotes as you'd be surprised by the cost difference. A couple of cases I was involved with in Donegal a couple of years ago cost the clients around €2k - €2.5k + VAT but it is impossible to say what any one job would cost as the various monuments can attract various levels of input/reports.

I'll move this to the Prices/costs forum.

No6

Starrgrrl wrote: »

South Kildare. We're hoping there won't be anything there really because the land has been used for farming for years and there's a good 100 yards and a river between the church and our site. Hard to know though. Our budget is pretty tight so anything extra is a pain.

That sounds excessive for having to get an Archaeologist, normally a feature or monument is usually listed on the Archaeological database for the country, its somewhere on the Dept of environment site and a separation zone is often applied, normally around 30m unless its in the same field which it doesn't sound like in this case!! Kildare Co Co will also have a policy in the development plan which you should look at.

CJhaughey

We had to do an AS as part of our planning 5+ yrs ago.
I think we paid the archaeologist 500 and the diggerman did it as part of the overall site works.
We were approx 200m from a partially ruined castle.

Slig

No6 wrote: »

That sounds excessive for having to get an Archaeologist, normally a feature or monument is usually listed on the Archaeological database for the country, its somewhere on the Dept of environment site and a separation zone is often applied, normally around 30m unless its in the same field which it doesn't sound like in this case!! Kildare Co Co will also have a policy in the development plan which you should look at.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, the planners seem to be covering their asses. The FI is now in the public record so there is little chance of them removing the requset. Its probably best to just get the trenches dug and nope nothing turns up.

Starrgrrl

I really don't think we will come across anything. The land has been used for farming for generations and the Kildare coco website actually states that no remains of the monastery that was part of the church has even been found.
It's the costs and time that had me worried mostly.
Saying that we'll probably discover Atlantis in my 1 acre!!
Thanks to everyone. If this if this is the only FI we get back I think I'll be happy enough!

anjisbuild

Starrgrrl wrote: »

I really don't think we will come across anything. The land has been used for farming for generations and the Kildare coco website actually states that no remains of the monastery that was part of the church has even been found.
It's the costs and time that had me worried mostly.
Saying that we'll probably discover Atlantis in my 1 acre!!
Thanks to everyone. If this if this is the only FI we get back I think I'll be happy enough!

Hi Starrgrrl, was in a similar situation to yours with a fairy fort close to the site - had hell with planning and cost me a small fortune. My advise to you would be to get a list of archaelologists from Kildare Coco and go with those - asking them if they have previous experience in dealing with planning issues such as yours. We got a young lad the first time- paid EUR800 (last year) for the work and were still refused because archaeologist we employed didnt know how to apply his work to planning. When I called Kerry Coco they suggested I look for another archaeologist with knowledge of planning, I did, paid another EUR800 cash (after a lot of bargaining) and got planning. I also had other issues with the planners but the archaeology part was the most tiresome and painful especially as the fairyfort had been destroyed years ago and was 20ft away from where we want to build. The planners are all trying to justify their jobs at the moment so for the sake of getting your planning just work with them and not against. Good luck with it and consider it money well spent if you get planning.

mothermary

Hi Starrgrrl

It sounds like you have a planning condition for archaeological monitoring of topsoil stripping and/or any excavation for construction of your house. This means an archaeologist must be present on-site and inspect any such works. 2 years ago this would have cost approx. €300/day. The no. of days on-site for an archaeologist will be determined by your build/construction programme e.g. If stripping of the site is going to take 2 days you need an archaeologist for 2 days. There will also be costs for admin for the archaeologist e.g. applying for an archaeological licence to monitor if necessary and when work is completed writing a report on findings (hopefully a short statement to say nothing archaeological was found!) to submit for planning compliance. I suggest you use google to search for an archaeologist wokring in your county and talk to them about your planning condition - given that the vast majority of archaeologists are out of work these days I would imagine that the rate I have quoted has probably halved by now. Good luck.

Starrgrrl

Thanks for all the information everyone. Planning due to get back to us by Friday so fingers/toes/eyes etc crossed that it'll be a simple further information request rather then anything too scary!
I'll let you all know how it goes anyway.
Thanks again.