The Early Medieval Archaeology of Skellig Michael

Most of Skellig Michael island in Ireland, except for the lighthouse area, is owned by the state on behalf of the Irish people. It is a National Monument and in 1996 the entire island was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A program of conservation commenced in 1978, directed by Grellan D. Rourke, Office of Public Works, and the extent of this has largely determined the scope of archaeological work undertaken on the island. It was deemed inappropriate to carry out any major excavations within the monastery itself given that the largely intact nature of this area does not necessitate it. The aim was to preserve the extant buildings and structures on the site and to avoid disturbing early medieval archaeological layers.
Essential conservation measures, however, did provide some opportunities for archaeological investigations here and at other points in the island, including on the South Peak. The archaeological excavations were principally conducted by Edward Bourke, Alan R. Hayden and Ann Lynch, National Monuments Service. All this work, which was often carried out under challenging and difficult circumstances, has provided much valuable information about Skellig Michael and a greater understanding of its significance during the early medieval period. This chapter provides an overview of the archaeology of the island taking into account the results of these excavations.