Reporting Archaeological Finds

If you find, or believe you have found, an archaeological object, you must report it within 96 hours (4 days) to Donegal County Museum or alternatively to the National Museum of Ireland or your local Garda Station. Reporting the object and cooperating with these agencies may see the finder being paid a Finders Reward.  

Contact the Museum on 074 91 24613 or museum@donegalcoco.ie  to find out whether the object you have found is an archaeological object and we will provide advice on the process involved.  

Failure to report an archaeological find may result in prosecution, which if found guilty of an offence under these Acts is subject to a fine of up to €111,100 and or five years imprisonment.  

Obligations in relation to the discovery of a wreck or underwater archaeological object  

Section 3 (6) of the 1987 Act (as amended) provides that a person finding a wreck over 100 years old must, within four days, make a report of the find to either the Minister or the Garda Síochána. Section 3 (6) of the 1987 Act (as amended) also provides that a person finding an archaeological object which is lying on, in or under the seabed or on or in land covered by water must within four days make a report of the find to the Director of the National Museum of Ireland, a Designated Museum (Donegal County Museum) or to the Gardai.   

 As a ‘Designated Museum’ under the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 and the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, Donegal County Museum is legally entitled to retain archaeological objects on behalf of the State.  These archaeological objects can then be displayed for everyone’s enjoyment and to add to our knowledge of the archaeology of County Donegal.             

The National Museum of Ireland will only lend objects for display to Designated Museums.  Curators of Designated Museums are empowered to act on behalf of the Director of the National Museum to ensure that objects are investigated, reported and preserved as State property.    

Click there to view a brochure containing more information about Designated Museums in Ireland  

In County Donegal, there are over 3,000 sites on the Record of Monuments & Places and most of them are in private ownership. Sites in the Record of Monuments & Places are protected under the National Monuments Acts (1930-2004) and are indicated on the paper maps by being circled or boxed in as appropriate by a black line. While the circles or boxes indicate their location, they do not define their exact extent.  

Click here to find out what archaeological monuments are in your area.   

Information on Archaeology in the Planning process can be found here.   

When the owner or occupier of a property, or any other person proposes to carry out, or to cause, or to permit the carrying out of any work at or in relation to a Recorded Monument or a Registered Monument they are required to give notice in writing to the Minister 2 months before commencing that work. This is to allow the National Monuments Service time to consider the proposed works and how best to proceed to further the protection of the monument.  

Any notification of works at or in relation to a Recorded or Registered Monument should be given using this form - Ministerial Notification - Works at/near Monument - and forwarded to nationalmonuments@housing.gov.ie  marked "Notification under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004"  

Archaeological Forms can be found here.

The use of Metal Detectors at or near Archaeological Sites is regulated by the National Monuments Acts 1930 – 2004. Unless you have made an application and received consent under the above Acts it is against the law to be in possession of a detection device in or near a site protected under the above Acts. It is also against the law to possess a detection device for the purpose of searching for archaeological objects or ‘treasure’. Under the National Monument Acts 1930 – 2004 there are provisions for a fine and imprisonment if found guilty of this offence. If you find an archaeological object while in contravention of these restrictions with a detection device, additional offense under the Acts may have been committed.  

Further advice on the use of Metal Detection Devices and their Impact on our Archaeological Heritage can be found here.

The National Museum of Ireland Advice on the law surrounding Metal Detecting can be found here. 

National Monuments Service information on Sites Monuments Records (known archaeological sites) can be found here. 

There is robust legislation in place to protect wrecks and archaeological objects in Ireland’s territorial waters, in the intertidal zone and within the inland waterways. Wrecks over 100 years old and archaeological objects underwater irrespective of age are automatically protected. More information is available on the Protection of Wrecks here. 

Wrecks  

Wrecks that are less than 100 years old and archaeological objects or the potential location of such a wreck or archaeological object can also be protected under Section 3 of the 1987 (Amendment) Act. An underwater heritage order can be placed on a wreck or object if considered to be of sufficient historical, archaeological or artistic importance to merit such protection.     

Information on Underwater Heritage Orders and a list of Orders made to date is available in Underwater Heritage Orders.