Metal detector ban at skeleton site
A Council chief has warned people with metal detectors to stay away from the area in Forlorn Point at Kilmore Quay where the ancient skeletal remains of a man were uncovered recently during storm Ophelia.
‘There is a problem with metal detectors turning up on site. I would warn people that the use of metal detectors on an archaeological sites is an offence,’ Director of Services Tony Larkin said at a Wexford Borough District Council meeting.
Mayor of Wexford Cllr. Jim Moore said the recovery of the skeleton, thought to date from the iron age, has generated a lot of interest and he wondered about the process involved in having the grave location designated as a monumental site.
Executive planner James Lavin said he was sure this would be done through the Department of Heritage but it would first be necessary to get an historical and archaeological assessment of the area.
The Director of Services said that from an initial assessment of the site, it seemed to be important. It was most likely that the Council planning department would liaise with the Heritage Department to have it designated as an archaeological monument.
For the present, he is concerned about the arrival of people with metal detectors and he warned them that they could face prosecution.
‘It is the position of the Council that we will seek the prosecution of anyone who is involved in this activity. It is completely wrong to to use metal detectors to dig around an archaeological.
Emphasising that legislation governing the use of metal detectors is stricter here than in the UK, Mr. Larkin, he said the Council even had to obtain a licence before carrying out archaeological exploration at Vinegar Hill recently. ‘We had to apply for a licence before we could touch it.’
‘We are not the Uk. If you use a metal detector to look for archaeological objects, it doesn’t matter where, you are committing an offence,’ he said.