Archaeologists Discover Largest Prehistoric Settlement in Ireland

Archaeologists have made a remarkable discovery in County Wicklow, Ireland, unearthing what is believed to be the largest cluster of prehistoric houses ever found in Britain and Ireland. This significant archaeological site, located within the Baltinglass hillfort cluster, features over 600 house platforms dating back to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, a period spanning from 3700 to 800 BC.

Previously, the largest known cluster of ancient dwellings in Ireland was at Mullaghfarna, County Sligo, which contained around 150 houses from the middle Stone Age (approximately 3300-2900 BC) and again during the later Bronze Age (1200-900 BC). The recent findings in Wicklow, however, suggest a much larger settlement, indicating a sophisticated level of community organization and habitation.

Significance of the Baltinglass Hillfort Cluster

The Baltinglass hillfort cluster consists of up to 13 large hilltop enclosures situated across a series of hills on the southwestern edge of the Wicklow Mountains. Researchers from Cambridge University have noted that these sites show signs of continuous use and monumental construction from the Early Neolithic period through to the Bronze Age.

Among the notable structures within this cluster is the Brusselstown Ring, characterized by two widely spaced ramparts that encompass the enclosure. Airborne surveys suggest this site may contain over 600 potential house platforms, with 98 located within the inner enclosure and an additional 509 positioned between the inner and outer elements. This makes it the largest clustered hillfort settlement identified to date in both Ireland and Britain.

Cherie Edwards, an author of the study published in the journal Antiquity, commented on the implications of the findings. “This site – along with a small number of other nucleated settlements situated on hilltops – appears to have emerged around 1200 BC,” she stated. This timeline suggests that early city development in northern Europe may have occurred approximately 500 years earlier than previously believed.

Insights from Excavation and Research

Excavation efforts involved strategically placing trenches over house platforms of various sizes, ranging from six to 12 meters in diameter. Dr. Edwards explained that this approach aimed to assess potential correlations between house size and indicators of social differentiation. The settlement is confirmed to date to the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age (1193-410 BC) and is noted for its high density of dwellings.

Archaeologists also discovered a unique structure near one of the trenches, featuring a flat interior outlined by large stones. Previous surveys indicated that a stream may have flowed into this structure from uphill, leading researchers to suspect it could be a Bronze and Iron Age water cistern. If confirmed, this would represent the first water cistern of its kind found in an Irish hillfort.

These discoveries not only enrich our understanding of prehistoric habitation in Ireland but also highlight the complex social structures that existed during these ancient periods. The ongoing research at this site is expected to provide further insights into the lives of those who inhabited these remarkable settlements.