Maritime Heritage

Our coast is always an important area for defence, economic exploitation and trade. Over 9,000 years of human activity in Northern Ireland has inevitably left archaeological remains along the coastline and on the sea bed, and the study of these remains through maritime archaeology offers great potential to increase our understanding of the past.

To record and protect these sites we have established a Maritime Record and, in partnership with the University of Ulster at Coleraine, have set up a Centre for Maritime Archaeology to carry a out survey of the coastal zone, foreshore and seabed, and to train future maritime archaeologists.

We protect Northern Ireland's maritime heritage, working from shore to the limits of our national waters by:

1. Recording - we're conducting major coastal and sea bed surveys aimed at the identification and recording of hitherto unknown archaeological sites.
2. Protection of sites through responding to statutory consultation, such as advising on FEPA (Food and Environment Protection Act 1985) licence applications. FEPA licences mainly permit construction within the marine environment or the deposition of materials at sea.
3. Protection of sites by responding to statutory consultation from Planning Service and offering advice on appropriate development in relation to our maritime heritage.
4. Protection of sites by making recommendations for statutory protection measures, such as Scheduling under the Historic monuments and Archaeological Objects (NI) Order 1995.
5. Policy development - we contribute to policy formulation affecting maritime archaeology in Northern Ireland and the UK.
6. Protection through collaboration with relevant bodies - for example cross-border and UK government agencies, museums, the National Trust and University departments.
7. Supporting innovative research and the dissemination of results - we have sponsored and supported major work in the coastal zone from inception to publication.