10 Archaeological and
Cultural Heritage
10.6 National Monuments
Fourteen of the
sites identified in this report are classed as National Monuments
currently under state ownership or guardianship. The term
'National Monument' as defined by the 1930 National Monuments
Act is, "a monument or the remains of a monument the preservation
of which is a matter of national importance by reason of the
historical, architectural, traditional, artistic or archaeological
interest attaching thereto" (The National Monuments Act, 1930,
Part 1, Preliminary and General, Section 2). This definition
does not restrict inclusion based on dating and includes land
adjacent to a national monument, which is required to preserve
the amenities of the monument.
The majority
are listed in the Record of Historic Monuments and Places
(RMP), established under Section 12 of the 1994 National Monuments
(Amendment) Act. Under the terms of this act, the Minister
if required to establish and maintain a record of the monuments
and places where the Minister believes there are monuments.
This record gives protection to the monuments without having
to establish that a monument is in danger of falling into
decay. The term 'monument' as used in this Act encompasses
all artificial structures, regardless of date, whether or
not they are of archaeological or architectural interest,
but excludes buildings used for ecclesiastical purposes. All
monuments, whether or not they are in state ownership or care,
or be designated or subject to any legal protection, could
potentially be classed as 'National Monuments'. A 'Historic
Monument' includes 'a prehistoric monument and any monument
associated with the commercial, cultural, economic, industrial,
military, religious or social history of the place where it
is situated or of the country'. Any monument dating prior
to AD 1700 is automatically a historic monument, but monuments
post-dating AD 1700 may also be included.
The inclusion
of archaeological objectives by planning authorities in their
statutory development provides the basis for such authorities
to provide for the protection of the archaeological heritage.
These objectives, which may be set out in a county development
plan, include the 'preservation of caves, sites, features
and other objects of archaeological, geological or historical
interest'. These may also include the 'preservation of buildings
of artistic, architectural or historical interest.'
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