Rathgall, Co. Wicklow
Introduction
Set on a low ridge, only 120m above sea level but overlooking the surrounding landscape, the multivallent hillfort of Rathgall in the townland of Rath East has extensive views towards the Wicklow Mountains to the north, the mountains of the Castlecomer Coalfield to the west and the Blackstairs to the south.
The site was intermittently in use from the Neolithic to the medieval and post-medieval periods. Its main period of use, however, was in the middle to late Bronze Age, as evidenced by the rich archaeological record revealed by excavations. Within the surrounding landscape re a hillfort at Knockeen, prehistoric barrows, early medieval ringforts and enclosures and a hunt circle at Knockeen.
Visible features
The site is defined by four lines of enclosure still visible today. The innermost stone enclosure is the so-called cashel (rampart 1). This drystone structure of polygonal shape is probably of early medieval date. There is an undated rectangular chamber in its southern part, and its entrance is on its western site, broadly aligned with the western entrance through rampart 2 . This consists of stone and earthen bank with a ditch (fosse) immediately outside it and then a similar, smaller bank (rampart 3), creating an additional barrier. These two earthen ramparts and the ditch between them were probably constructed in the Bronze Age. Rampart 2 was later modified with the addition of the inner stone wall-facing visible today. Some of the 28 saddle querns found on the site had been reused in the construction of this wall and rampart 1, as noted at the time of excavations. The outer perimeter of the site is marked by rampart 4, built of stone, although it is absent on the north-eastern side of the site. Just outside the main entrance through rampart 2 on the western side of the site are the remains of an eighteen-century farm complex. There is a ramparts 3 and 4 in the east of the site.
The excavation
The site was investigated between 1969 and 1975 and in 1979 under the direction of the late Professor Barry Raftery of University College Dublin. He excavated large portions of the site, focusing on the central part of the hilltop enclosure as well as exploring some of the sloping around outside to the south of the site.
These excavations were undertaken at a time when it was understood that hilltop enclosures of this and similar form (hillforts) were of Iron Age date, as in Britain and on the Continent. The excavations of Rathgall demonstrated, however, that its construction and main phase of use took place in the middle to late Bronze Age, since confirmed by dates from other hillfort sites, for example Haughey’s Fort, Co. Armagh, and Mooghaun, Co. Clare. Rathgall has significantly added to our knowledge of this period in Ireland. It was an exceptional site of apparent high status and affluence, well connected to the wider European world.
