The Hill of Tara will be debated by leaders in the world of archaeology at an international conference next month.
A round-table session in Dublin about the ethics of the construction of the controversial M3 motorway will form part of the Sixth World Archaeological Congress (WAC-6).
The non-governmental group - the only archaeological organisation with elected global representation - holds an international convention every four years to promote the exchange of archaeological research, professional training, and the conservation of archaeological sites.
The M3 Motorway/Hill of Tara will be one of two themes debated by the WAC Ethics Forum during the event at University College Dublin from June 29th to July 4th.
Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch, which will submit a position statement for the debate, said campaigners are delighted Tara will be addressed by an impartial international forum of this calibre.
“The Tara/M3 issue has received massive international attention . . . but the debate in Ireland itself has been very muted, especially within professional archaeological circles,” he said.
“This debate is going to be explosive, as there are a lot of reputations riding on this issue, and positions have become very entrenched on both sides."
PA
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