Aerial photography of the newly discovered Viking settlement at Woodstown near Waterford City suggests the site may be far bigger and of greater importance than previously thought.
The National Museum has already called Woodstown the find of the century. However, the new pictures indicate a pattern of streets and houses which stretch for more than a kilometre along the River Suir.
The site lies in the path of the proposed Waterford Ring Road.
The Minister for the Environment, Martin Cullen, has indicated he will shortly order that the area be excavated.
