LONDON, ENGLAND.-An account of an archaeological excavation of an early Medieval site at Raystown, County Meath, Ireland by Matthew Seaver, has won the first prize in this year�s Heritage Research Presentation Award, announced on 8th September 2005 at the BA Festival of Science held at Trinity College, Dublin. Anne Carey�s study of the life and achievements of Harold G Leask, the first Inspector of National Monuments in the newly founded Irish Free State , was the runner-up. They will receive a cash prize of �1,500 and �500 respectively.

The winners were chosen by an expert panel chaired by renowned historian Julian Richards and members of the public from six shortlisted candidates, competing to find engaging and accessible ways to communicate their research findings to a non-specialist audience. (Please see Note for Editors for details.)

Sebastian Payne, Chief Scientist at English Heritage, the principal organiser and sponsor of the Award, said: �English Heritage believes that people�s care and value for the historic environment come from a better understanding of it. Science and research, and the ability to communicate them effectively to a wide and diverse audience, is key to engendering this understanding. We are very pleased to sponsor the award and to encourage specialists to tell more people, especially students and young people, about their research and what it is telling us about our past.�

The Award for the Presentation of Heritage Research 2005 is sponsored by English Heritage, the Royal Archaeological Institute, Cadw, Historic Scotland, the Environment and Heritage Service(an agency within the Department of Environment, Northern Ireland), and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Republic of Ireland).