The INSTAR+ programme is a successor to the Irish National Strategic Archaeological Research (INSTAR) Programme, which ran from 2008 to 2014 and delivered a number of key collaborative projects in areas such as Neolithic agriculture, ancient human remains and early medieval settlement.
The objective of the INSTAR+ archaeological research programme, which is funded by the National Monuments Service, is to fully realise the potential of Ireland’s archaeological record, and to transform our understanding of how Ireland’s society has evolved. One aim of INSTAR+ is to ensure that all archaeological work undertaken in the context of development-led excavations is translated into knowledge about Ireland’s past. INSTAR+ will deliver publications and research outputs that will bring together information across regions and time, forming an up-to-date narrative on our past.
INSTAR+ will be operated by Research Ireland (formerly the Irish Research Council) as part of the COALESCE Programme. It will fund 24-month collaborative projects aimed at addressing key knowledge gaps in Irish archaeology, building research capacity, and helping to address the issue of unpublished archaeological excavations. The interactions anticipated between commercial, academic and state archaeologists and local communities under Instar+ will lead to greater co-operation and resilience across the sector.
INSTAR+ centres on a number of themes:
- Cultural identity, territories and boundaries
- Resources, technology and craft
- Exchange and trade
- Religion and ritual
- Environment and climate change
- Landscapes and settlement
- Archaeology and contemporary society.
So far, ten 24-month collaborative INSTAR+ projects have been funded, and we are continuing to work with Research Ireland on future funding calls.
More information about this partnership scheme is available on the Irish Research Council website: https://research.ie/partnerships/national-monuments-service-of-the-department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage-in-partnership-with-the-heritage-council/
Details of projects funded under the original INSTAR programme can be found on the Heritage Council website: https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/content/files/INSTAR_reasearch_programme_2_year_review.pdf