THE Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) warned from early in 2008 that the proposed route of the Cherrymount Link Road in Enniskillen would “disturb or destroy” the remains of Drumclay Crannog, a review into the excavation of the ancient historical site has revealed.

Published by the Department of the Environment (DOE), the 51-page independent review has found that the circumstances which resulted in the excavation of Drumclay Crannog were due to both “systemic weaknesses as well as human judgement”.

It makes a total of six recommendations to improve protocols for archaeological work on road schemes and the reviewing of licences.

The report states that the excavation of Drumclay Crannog, a man-made island over 1,000 years old, became necessary because of the plans for the A32 Cherrymount Link Road outside of Enniskillen.

It states that, from early March 2008, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency consistently pointed out its concern that the proposed line of the route would disturb or destroy the archaeological remains of the crannog, that policy dictated the avoidance of known archaeological sites and the need to clearly identify the location and extent of the site on the ground.

In the summer of 2012, the report states “significant” professional and public concern was expressed about how the excavation was being conducted, and how much time was being allocated to complete those works. As a result of intervention by then Minister for the Environment, Alex Attwood, the DOE took over the leadership of the excavation of the site.

The report states that, in partnership with the Department of Regional Development, one of the most important archaeological excavations ever conducted in Northern Ireland was “successfully delivered”.

It further states that, at the time when the DOE intervened, the then Minister acknowledged the concerns that had been expressed about the “context and conduct of excavation up until that point”.

The report adds: “It is important, in these times of challenge and change, that the lessons learned from the events at Drumclay Crannóg are not forgotten.” MLA Phil Flanagan commented: “Lessons need to be learnt from this mess. The Minister’s delay in publishing this report has not increased public confidence in the Department or in the Environment Agency, which does not come out well in this review.

"It is important that the lessons from this report are learnt, particularly those around systematic weaknesses and poor human judgement, so that a similar situation does not arise in future.